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Scandal mounts for Duggar family as past comments come to light

Jim Bob Duggar had strong words about those who commit rape and incest, according to a 2002 campaign website.
/ Source: TODAY

It's been a week since allegations of child molestation against Josh Duggar first broke. Since then, he's issued a public apology and his parents have issued a statement of their own.

But now it's a statement "19 Kids and Counting" patriarch Jim Bob made long before all of that that's gaining attention.

The Duggar Family
Duggar family photo.Courtesy the Duggar family

According to a 2002 campaign website attributed to the former Arkansas House Representative, it was his position that "rape and incest represent heinous crimes and as such should be treated as capital crimes."

The comments come amid growing calls for TLC to cancel the Duggar family's long-running reality TV show.

Father of the Duggar family, Jim Bob
Jim Bob Duggar.Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images

On Tuesday, TLC dropped the family from an upcoming appearance at its network Block Party event, scheduled for Saturday. And following General Mills decision to cut ties with "19 Kids and Counting" on Monday, other advertisers — including Payless Shoe Source and Choice Hotels — have followed suit.

"These are family advertisers and they do not want to be attached to such a terrible scandal," Variety senior TV writer Elizabeth Wagmeister told TODAY.

Josh Duggar
Josh Duggar.Brian Frank / Reuters

While TLC pulled the series from its lineup late last week, there's still no word on the long-term future of the show.

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