MOMENTS before the defense rested in the trial of Josh Duggar, long-simmering tensions between family patriarch Jim Bob and son-in-law Derick Dillard seemingly resurfaced inside the courthouse.
Derick, who has been critical of the family in the past, is married to Jim Bob’s daughter Jill.
According to The Sun reporter inside the trial, Derick has been sitting in the front row of the courtroom, right next to Josh’s wife Anna, since day one.
Earlier today, when Jim Bob approached Anna during a break, he passed Derick, and offered only a simple “hello.”
Derick said a faint “hi” back.
As Jim Bob hugged his daughter-in-law and stayed in the first row, Derick moved to the back, to sit with Jason, Joy-Anna, her husband Austin Forsyth, Jana and other loved ones.
Our reporter noted the environment around the scattered family was “awkward and cold.”
Derick did not return to the front row when the break ended even though there was seating available.
The anxiety between Derick, his wife Jill, and Jim Bob dates back years.
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In 2015, it was revealed that Jill along with sister Jessa, were two of five female minors Josh had allegedly molested in the early 2000s.
Jill, 30, and her husband Derick, 32, exclusively told The Sun at the time they “hope justice is done” after Josh was arrested on two counts of child pornography.
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Speaking for the first time since Josh’s arrest, Jill said: “We’re very sad about the whole thing, it’s horrible. It’s all very sad.”
Law student Derick added: “Obviously if there is anything there related to child pornography, we hope that justice is done.
“I don’t think anybody supports child pornography.
“We’re sad for Anna, put yourself in her situation and imagine how you would feel if that happened with your family member.
“I imagine it would be really hard.”
ABUSE ALLEGATIONS
Derick seemingly further ostracized himself from the family when he liked a tweet claiming that Jim Bob “financially and emotionally” abuses his children.
The tweet bashed IBLP [Institute in Basic Life Principles] which is the religion the Duggars follow.
The post read: “IBLP/ATI is a literal cult of Bill Gothard. He has denied the allegations.
“It teaches his perverse version of Christianity that encourages submission and victimization. Fertility is placed above individuality or personhood.
“Jim Bob keeps the children compliant thru financial/emotional abuse.”
COUNTING OUT
Derick and Jill quit Counting On in 2017, two years after it emerged that Josh molested five underage girls including Jill.
They have since criticized Jim Bob and his wife, Michelle, and spoken out against their conservative beliefs.
Derick later told The Sun that they are banned from the family compound when Jim Bob is not there.
He also alleged that Jim Bob withheld payments from the couple’s appearances on the family’s reality show.
JOSH’S TRIAL
Josh was arrested for possessing and receiving child pornography in April 2021.
Trial began in Fayetteville, Arkansas last week.
On Tuesday, the defense rested after only two witnesses.
Wednesday will open with closing statements before the case is handed to the jury.
Josh faces 20 years in prison if convicted.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
