Jim Bob Duggar announces state Senate run amid disgraced son Josh’s child pornography case
JIM Bob Duggar announced his official run for state Senate amid his disgraced son Josh's child pornography case continues in court.
Jim Bob, 56, has made the leap from reality TV into politics, according to
The Counting On alum hoped to fill in the vacant seat for Arkansas State Senate District 7.
Jim Bob released a statement and said: "Northwest Arkansas is my lifelong home. It's where my wife, Michelle, and I have raised our 20 children.
"It's where we've grown our small businesses. It's where we've built a life centered around our faith, family, and friends."
The Duggar patriarch claimed that "out-of-control bureaucrats have put politics over common-sense policy with government mandates that force people to choose between earning a paycheck and violating their personal rights and beliefs."
He promised to be the "bold voice that is pro-family, pro-business, pro-gun, and pro-life."
The TLC star concluded: "It's time for conservatives to demand courageous leadership that puts Arkansas families, jobs, and our constitutional liberties first.
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"I look forward to being your voice in the Arkansas State Senate."
MARRIED AS TEENS?
Back in September, Counting fans were shocked to discover that Jim Bob Duggar had married his wife Michelle, 54, when they were both teenagers.
Married on July 21, 1984, Michelle would have been 17 years old and her hubby would have been 19 years old at the time.
A user shared an excerpt from an interview Michelle did describing their wedding.
The excerpt revealed that the two tied the knot three months after her high school graduation and two months before her 18th birthday.
One Counting On fan wrote: ";This is so sad, so disturbing and honestly I’m surprised that she even finished high school before she got married."
Another Counting On fan added: "Can you imagine still being with the person you were with at 17?"
A third person mentioned: "Makes sense why she has no problem with her kids getting married as teens."
JOSH'S LEGAL ISSUES
Recently, , 33, missed the deadline to accept a plea deal before trial in his child pornography case.
According to the Pretrial Scheduling Order, Josh had until October 18th to accept a plea agreement and change his non-guilty plea.
The Sun can exclusively reveal no change of plea has been filed as of October 19th.
Jim Bob's son could be facing up to 20 years behind bars if found guilty.
Back in April, Josh was arrested and charged with possessing and receiving child pornography.
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As The Sun reported, Anna, 32, who is expecting her seventh child, is standing by her husband's side despite the crime.
The family’s reality show was canceled in light of the scandal.
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