The same person is responsible for both stories. He moved from the National Enquirer to In Touch. See the Washington Post link above.
Thanks, @jonri. I read the article after I made that comment and was pretty surprised to see that. Apparently he broke the Mel Gibson racist audiotapes story too.
Sometimes the reputable journalists wait for the “yellow” ones to pay their sources to get a scoop. It’s considered unethical, but just because someone wants to be compensated for their story doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a liar. And when we’re talking about commercial news outlets reaping the big bucks that come from a blockbuster story, in some ways it only seems fair.
In Touch didn’t pay anyone for the Duggar story, though.
Curtin.
I have to say, I agree with this.
So no one has mentioned the news that came out today (either that, or I skimmed over it):
http://www.inquisitr.com/2162005/new-duggar-investigation/
So, I do wonder… if someone had it out for the Duggars (and we all know there are people out there who do), could an anonymous phone call to Arkansas DHS be enough to launch an investigation? I’m just wondering if someone could have done something like that. Or does the DHS require more substantial evidence before launching an investigation. I’m guessing if they had to respond to every phone call they got, their work load would be exasperating. I mean, as much as I think they are horrible parents, I do think frivolous reports and investigations just for the sake of revenge is not good for the children still in the home if there’s really nothing going on. I do wonder which child they were trying to check on, though, but hope it doesn’t get disclosed who it is.
in Washington, you can call 911, and say someone is threatening to harm children, and they will be arrested, and the children placed in protective custody while it is being investigated.
Confirmation of the source is not needed.
And the workload of those at DSHS is exasperating, and even dangerously overloaded.
They seem to spend time on the cases that look like will be easy to clear, but less time on those where the kids are actually in danger, because they don’t have a good place to put them.
InTouch: “DHS records are not available to the public so it is unknown what prompted the investigation. Experts tell In Touch that an investigation can be triggered by a hotline complaint, even an anonymous one, if the trained operator determines the allegation is serious enough that it meets standards for child abuse maltreatment laws.”
That’s my understanding in several states.
Well, I’m going to withhold judgment until we learn more about this. It could easily have been some malicious person making an anonymous call.
Agree - particularly given the current level of scrutiny. I am surprised that the Duggars refused to provide access to the child. That seems very odd. You would think they would be eager to show that all was well.
Especially after Jessa and Jill were so adamant in that Megyn Kelly interview that DHS had praised their parents for how they handled the earlier situation with Josh.
I have read several horror stories about children taken from their parents in these “investigations” where it took YEARS to get it straightened out and the child returned, even though there was no abuse. And likely the trauma the child suffered being ripped from their home and shuffled from pillar to post was life-damaging. I would not trust the system either.
Frankly, there are also too many cases where a child is not removed, when it is indicated. I’ll go with VH’s comment about waiting to learn more.
In addition, while many of us disagree with how the Duggars raise their kids, I don’t believe anyone is being truly ill-treated in a way that would warrant removal from the home.
Unless, of course, they were being touched in the night on their genitals by a sibling and the parents refused to deal with it.
As opposed to the trauma of living where it wasn’t safe knowing your parents support the status quo.
One of the links mentioned that the first DHS study could have limited Josh’s engagement at home- or possibly recommended he live elsewhere, including the possibility that would be with other relatives- not necessarily a foster placement for the girls. It was guessed maybe this was why he sued DHS. But those records are all sealed.
I didn’t know refusing to allow a child protection agency into your home was even an optIon? I would have assumed that not cooperating would cause you even more problems.
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/06/11/tlc-still-silent-on-future-1-kids-and-counting/
Still no decision on the future of the show.
Is there any reason they need to decide at this time? Can’t they just let this ride and see what transpires?
There is a comparison being made to Honey Boo Boo - which was cancelled almost instantky after June was linked to a child molestor who was just released from prison. So it seems to be a double standard. 19 Kids has also lost most, if not all, of the sponors. Just wondering what TLC is waiting for or considering.