Duggar-Backed Homeschoolers Caught in Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Maybe Josh Duggar's past molesting habits are something he picked up at school.

Five plaintiffs are suing The Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), a homeschooling program touted by the Duggar family, for allegedly covering up underage sexual assault.

According to a report in the Washington Post, the five women, who were minors at the time, claim they were subjected to "inappropriate touching" while involved in IBLP. They are each seeking $50,000 in damages.

Although IBLP founder Bill Gothard isn't named in the lawsuit (IBLP is named as defendant), he is being accused of offering counseling to the plaintiffs, who were as young as 13 or 14 at the time, and touching them inappropriately at IBLP's office or the back seat of a car.

Raw Story notes the suit also accuses staff members at IBLP for failing to notify authorities after receiving frequent reports.

The celebrity faces of IBLP have been Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, who homeschool their 19 kids using IBLP's program. Their eldest son Josh was reportedly sent to a IBLP facility when he was a teenager after being caught molesting several young girls including his own sisters.

According to Wikipedia , IBLP is a non-denominational, Christian organization in Oak Brook, Illinois that serves as an umbrella organization for several ministries. IBLP was established by Gothard for the purpose of resolving youth and family conflicts.