Quote: Cincinnatus wrote in post #1

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I have always had hinky feelings about this whole affair. This report makes me feel even suspicious as to what really went on.

"The Duggar family, which constitutes Michelle, Jim Bob, and their 19 children, epitomize the self-proclaimed Christian values of the Bible Belt on their series TLC series 19 Kids and Counting. But now, it's more like epitomized.

The family is being rocked by a molestation scandal that was uncovered by In Touch Weekly, and its gay West Coast editor, Rick Egusquiza. With every day bringing new revelations about the Duggars, Egusquiza is busy speaking with media about the family and the future of the show. The journalist — who made a name for himself in 2007 when he broke the story of John Edwards' affair with Rielle Hunter, which helped sink the former senator's presidential ambitions — found a few minutes to answer 19 of our queries.

The Advocate: Hi Rick. Congrats on the piece. How did you come to break this story?

Rick Egusquiza: Thank you. The rumors of Joshua Duggar being sexually inappropriate as a teenager were circulating for years, but no one could prove it until In Touch Weekly really started digging into it. My bosses received a tip and then sent me and a team to Springdale, Ark., to start digging around. One tipster led me to another, and then another. I have to say it was good old-fashioned reporting on the ground and a lot of door-knocking. Also a lot of leg work from our team of excellent reporters and editors. I'd love to take full credit, but it wasn't a one-man job."

Rest of interview: http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainme...ht-down-duggars (emphasis added)

What tip? From whom? The story broke because of an FOI request, not "tips". How did he know to file the FOI, and why, despite its dubious legality, was it honored? What part, if any, did Egusquiza's homosexuality play in all this? Was he specifically chosen as the point man in a campaign to destroy the Duggars, their outspoken Christianity, their strong family values?

This whole thing smells of some kind of collusion on the part of the authorities, especially the chief of police, and needs a thorough investigation.

For the record I have never been a huge Duggar fan, but I can't help but suspect the attack on them has implications far beyond just this one family

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Absolutely. Just think of how this can justify banning home schooling, banning Christian schools, ..........

Maybe not banning directly but using onerous regulations and fess to make impossible.