Josh Duggar
Josh Duggar, photographed delivering a speech at the Family Leadership Summit in August 2014, has reportedly hired bodyguard Steve Neild (not pictured) to assist in protecting his family. Reuters

Josh Duggar isn’t taking any chances when it comes to his family's safety. As rumors continue to swirl in the molestation scandal surrounding the “19 Kids and Counting” star, he appears to have hired a bodyguard.

According to ET, Josh, 27, has sought protection from Steve Nield. Sources told the publication the 52-year-old was spotted shooing photographers away from the family’s Maryland home on Tuesday. Josh was reportedly packing up the house, which he shares with his wife, Anna Duggar, and their three children. Although Nield he was seen assisting Josh with his big move, Us Weekly reports he will not be working for the “19 Kids” star full-time.

You might recognize Nield from his time as “Kate Plus 8” star Kate Gosselin’s bodyguard. He has been working with her since 2009 when she split from her now ex-husband Jon Gosselin. It was widely believed that Neild and Kate’s relationship was far more than just employer to employee. The pair have been rumored to be dating for years, though neither has confirmed those claims.

As we previously reported, Josh’s home has been listed for rental. He and his family are thought to be moving back to Arkansas. There they can be close to Josh's parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, as well as the rest of the Duggar family.

Their move comes just days after two of Josh's sisters, Jill Dillard and Jessa Seewald, appeared on “The Kelly File." During their interview, Jill and Jessa admitted they had been molested by their older brother when he was a teenager. Josh's three other victims have not been identified. Both sisters defended Josh, saying they felt obligated to speak out amid all the “lies” circulating about him. Jessa slammed publications calling her eldest sibling a child molester or rapist, saying he was just “a young boy in puberty and a little too curious about girls.” Jill agreed, telling host Megyn Kelly they had no idea what had even occurred until he confessed.

Both Josh and Anna have been noticeably absent from social media since the scandal broke on May 19. The father of three has since stepped down from his position within the Family Research Council and issued a formal apology. Neither he nor his wife has addressed their move.

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