Josh Duggar Compares Bobye Holt to a ‘Bitter Ex’ in New Court Documents
Josh Duggar isn’t done trying to get his child pornography conviction overturned, even though the odds are incredibly slim. Duggar, without financial backing, recently submitted a motion to vacate to the courts. The motion was prepared by the 37-year-old felon himself. In the filing, Josh Duggar makes several lofty claims, but Duggar family followers will likely be interested in his thoughts on Bobye Holt’s testimony. He compares the former family friend to a ‘bitter ex,” and theorizes she testified against him because she was upset he did not marry her daughter.
Josh Duggar calls Bobye Holt ‘bitter’ in new court filing
On July 29, Joshua James Duggar filed a motion to vacate his sentence. Duggar prepared the document himself and appears to blame everyone and everything for his current plight. In the filing, Josh Duggar presents several grounds to have his sentence overturned. He claims several people committed perjury, argues that he was not allowed to present evidence, and once again tries to blame a car lot employee for the crime. He even calls into question Bobye Holt’s testimony.
His writing is particularly harsh regarding his former family friend, Bobye Holt. In the court papers, Duggar accuses Holt of having ulterior motives for her testimony. He alleges that Holt was motivated by jealousy and bitterness after he and her daughter, Kaeleigh Holt, ended their courtship decades ago. In the motion, he compares Bobye Holt to a “bitter ex” and claims her testimony was biased and riddled with lies. He alleges she wishes to “destroy” the Duggar family.
Who is Bobye Holt, and why did she testify?
Bobye and her husband, Jim Holt, were longtime family friends of the Duggars. Jim Holt and Jim Bob Duggar were childhood friends. The Holts and the Duggars raised their children together for many years. The Holt family even appeared briefly on the earliest Duggar family special. The families had a falling out shortly before the Duggars became a household name.
During her testimony, Bobye Holt revealed that Josh Duggar had admitted to her and her husband that he had molested his sisters. At the time of the admission, Josh was quietly dating their eldest child, Kaeleigh. They were still just teens, but Holt revealed there were “plans” for the pair to wed. The admission and additional incidents led to the end of the romantic relationship and the families’ friendship.
Bobye Holt’s testimony did not touch on Josh’s child pornography crimes, nor did she provide current-day information about the Duggar family. Holt was called to establish a pattern of problematic and criminal behavior that stretched back years. The Holts went on to appear in Shiny Happy People season 1 before dealing with their own legal issues. They’ve been quiet since.
The convict has had multiple appeals denied
While found guilty on multiple counts, Josh Duggar has maintained his innocence. His wife, Anna Duggar, publicly defended him before going almost entirely off the grid. He has pursued multiple appeals, hoping to be released or be granted a new trial. While it was largely assumed Jim Bob Duggar was funding those appeals, something has changed recently.
In October 2022, he sought a new trial, which was denied by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in August 2023. He then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to hear his case in June 2024. This year, he filed a motion representing himself. In the motion, he asked for a court-appointed attorney. His request was denied. His most recent filing, in which he attempts to once again blame a former employee and lambasts Bobye Holt, was submitted by the convict.
Unless there is a major change in his case, Josh Duggar will remain imprisoned at FCI Seagoville until 2032. His prison release date was recently updated. He has a set release date of Dec. 23, 2032.
