Reality Stars Respond to Sex Abuse Allegations
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the story of my family. That's me. I'm Michelle. There's Jim Bob, my wonderful husband, and our children.</s>TAPPER: The money lead. You know them as the Duggars from a hugely successful reality television show. "19 Kids and Counting" it's called. They used the sow to showcase and promote a wholesome lifestyle, all while publicly preaching conservative Christian values. But could their status as moral role models and their multimedia empire be about to crumble after a rather upsetting revelation? "In Touch" weekly broke the story that Josh Duggar, the eldest of the Duggar children, was accused of molesting young girls including his own sisters when he was 14 years old. Josh's parents reportedly waited a year before they told police. I'm joined by CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter. And, Brian, you just learned some new information about the fate of the show?</s>BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Yes, TLC finally weighed in, after staying silent all day. They say they're taking every scheduled episode of the show off the air for now. In a statement, they say that their thoughts and prayers are with the family and the victims in this case. They call this a very difficult time. And this time is not over yet. You know, this situation really is a family in crisis. Discovery and TLC say it's no time for a television show.</s>STELTER (voice-over): For years, the Duggars have been TLC's biggest family, banking on an image of wholesome Christian values --</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's important to use the bible.</s>STELTER: -- that have gained them the favor of high-profile conservatives. They have even appeared alongside presidential candidates.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Standing for your values.</s>STELTER: But now, a disturbing revelation about the Duggars' eldest son Josh could derail everything. A report by "In Touch" weekly alleging he molested several young girls including family members. Josh apologized in a statement on his family's Facebook page writing, "Twelve years ago, I acted inexcusably for which I'm extremely sorry and deeply regret. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing." In the same statement, Josh's parents admit they've known about his actions for years, adding, we pray as people watch our lives, they see that we are not a perfect family.</s>ROB VOLMER, CROSBY VOLBMER INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS: You would think it's, you know, past memory. This is child molestation. This is a family values show. I just don't see how it survives.</s>STELTER: With camera crews and producers watching the family since 2008, critics question whether or not TLC has also keep the story under wraps.</s>VOLMER: The whole foundation is about family values. At least that's how I frame it. It's about raising a family. It's about protecting children, raising children in the right way. And this admission goes against everything that they talk about.</s>STELTER: TMZ reports that the Oprah Winfrey show was tipped to Josh's action in 2006, prior to an interview. Producers reportedly cancelled the segment and notified a child protection hot line. CNN has contacted Oprah's network, but so far, they are saying nothing. Meantime, Josh's resigned from his prominent role with the Family Research Council, a well-known conservative Christian group in Washington. But at least one high-profile friend is sticking by the Duggars.</s>MIKE HUCKABEE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They're dear friends. They're wonderful and an exemplary family.</s>STELTER: Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee appeared with the Duggars just last month. And in a statement today, Huckabee confirmed his continued support, writing, "Good people make mistake and do regrettable and even disgusting things. Let others run from them. We will run to them with our support."</s>VOLMER: Most things are forgivable in the American conscience. Child molestation is just not.</s>STELTER: Yes, usually, real controversies become good publicity for reality shows. Jake, this might be the rare case where it's not true. Right now, the program's not being produced. The cameramen are not there. The question is whether they'll ever be back to film more episodes now.</s>TAPPER: All right. Brian Stelter, thank you so much. Let's bring in Dr. Gail Saltz. She's a psychiatrist and associate professor of psychiatry at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Saltz, beyond the legal implications of the family not immediately reporting these sex assault allegations to police, you have another problem with how this was handled?</s>DR. GAIL SALTZ, ASSOC. PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY, NY PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL: I do, because at the end of the day, if there is no treatment, then there is no understanding on the part of the perpetrator why they committed these behaviors. Obviously, an understanding in that family, if you can't hug, and you can't touch, and certainly what went on was wrong, and understood to be wrong. So, why did he need to do it? Without understanding that, the likelihood of reoccurring behavior, in other words, perpetrating again, is much greater. In addition, victim whose have been abused, we know, from all the data, that they are likely to go on to suffer with depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, much more than the normal population. And they, too, therefore, need treatment. So, by keeping this a secret, you've essentially denied both parties in a way the kind of treatment that really they both need to go on with their lives, actually in a healthy way, and you've also kept a family secret that essentially in a way condones, like, we need to keep this a secret and we're going to keep this within, and, therefore, you know, we're not going to either get help, get treatment or deal with this in a morally and legally appropriate way.</s>TAPPER: When you talk about appropriate treatment, just to clarify -- you're not, you're saying going to their church and being ministered there, that's not enough. You're talking about professional psychiatric treatment?</s>SALTZ: I am. In other words, going to work with somebody and do hard labor and read the bible is not going to help you understand why you did this kind of act.</s>TAPPER: Right.</s>SALTZ: And if the urge is still there and it's not understood, it's likely to reoccur. So, I am talking about professional psychiatric treatment. And for victims of abuse, the same goes. And in a family where the culture is that women actually are subservient to the men and therefore, really, do they have a free choice about forgiving? So, coming to the abused person and saying, you know, do you forgive me, when you're the man and they're the woman, and they don't really have much of a free choice in that, it's not real forgiveness, and I would think that that would only likely aggravate the kinds of symptoms of depression and even guilt that might occur.</s>TAPPER: All right. Dr. Gail Saltz, thank you so much for your perspective. Appreciate it.</s>SALTZ: My pleasure.</s>TAPPER: Coming up, Hillary Clinton' private e-mails publicly released just hours ago and the former secretary of state gave her reaction to them and their release. That's next. Plus, the suspect in that horror, horrific quadruple murder just blocks from the vice president's residence, faced a judge just minutes ago. Police now saying he did not act alone. He will on the show the D.C. police chief about the new leads they are following, as well as the head U.S. marshal. That's ahead.