Josh's actions came to light last week after police report was released

Twelve years before her remarks, the 19 Kids and Counting mother's eldest son, Josh, had confessed to molesting young girls as they slept

She added: 'I doubt parents would stand for a law that would endanger their daughters or allow them to be traumatized by a man joining them'

'I don't believe citizens want males with past child predator convictions that claim they are female to have legal right' to enter female bathrooms

Michelle Duggar, 47, spoke out last August against bill that would let transgender people use whichever bathroom they felt comfortable in

Michelle Duggar and her family made the headlines for the wrong reasons last week when it was revealed that her eldest son, Josh, had admitted to molesting young girls when he was a teenager.

Now, the mother-of-nineteen is facing fierce criticism targeted directly at her - as it has emerged she equated transgender people to 'child predators' 12 years after Josh made the sordid confession.

Last August, Michelle - who stars in TLC's hit show 19 Kids and Counting with her husband, Jim Bob, and children - spoke out about a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Narrating a robocall to local voters, she expressed concern that the bill - which was eventually passed - would let transgender people use whichever bathroom they felt most comfortable in.

Scroll down for Michelle Duggar's robocall

'Hypocrite': Michelle Duggar is facing fierce criticism after it has emerged she equated transgender people to 'child predators' 12 years after her son, Josh (seen with her), admitted to molesting young girls as a teen

Response: Narrating a robocall to local voters in Fayetteville, Arkansas, last August, Michelle said: 'I don't believe citizens would want males with past child predator convictions... to have a legal right to enter private areas that are reserved for women and girls.' Above, a Twitter user accuses the mother-of-19 of hypocrisy

'I'm livid': : Another user tweets: 'Michelle Duggar demonizing LGBTZ ppl while her son is the real predator'

She said: 'I don't believe... citizens... would want males with past child predator convictions that claim they are female to have a legal right to enter private areas that are reserved for women and girls.'

She added: 'I doubt that Fayetteville parents would stand for a law that would endanger their daughters or allow them to be traumatized by a man joining them in their private space.

'We should never place the preference of an adult over the safety and innocence of a child.'

'Parents, who do you want undressing next to your daughter at the public swimming pool's private changing area? I still believe that we are a society that puts women and children first.'

But what Michelle, now 47, did not reveal was that, 12 years earlier, in 2002, her eldest child, Josh, had admitted to her and Jim Bob Duggar, that he had molested at least one young girl at their home.

At the time, the family had a meeting, but did not tell police. A year later, 'several' more minors came forward to say that Josh had touched them as they slept, and the teen was sent away for treatment.

'Going out of her way': A man called Ian, of Toronto, Canada, tweets: '@duggarfam Michelle Duggar went out of her way 2 label Trans folk as predators after she knew her son @joshduggar was a predator #duggars'

Keeping a dark secret at home: Another Twitter user writes: 'Michelle Duggar, who was concerned pro-trans laws would put predators in bathrooms apparently had no problem keeping a predator in own home'

All the gang: Michelle, 47, who stars in TLC's hit show 19 Kids and Counting with her family, is pictured with her husband, Jim Bob, and children in 2014 - the year that she made the remarks about transgender people

However, authorities only became aware of Josh's actions in 2006 after Oprah Winfrey's production team alerted them to an email they had been sent warning the host about the molestation scandal.

The scandal became public knowledge last Thursday when the 2006 police report accusing Josh of molestation was obtained by InTouch Magazine - prompting Josh, now 27, to issue an apology.

Social media users are now expressing outrage over the Duggars' secret in the context of Michelle's previous comments about transgender people, with many deeming the famous mother a 'hypocrite'.

A man called Ian, from Toronto, Canada, tweeted: '@duggarfam Michelle Duggar went out of her way 2 label Trans folk as predators after she knew her son @joshduggar was a predator #duggars.'

Meanwhile, another user wrote: 'Michelle Duggar, who was concerned pro-trans laws would put predators in bathrooms apparently had no problem keeping a predator in own home.'

And one named Kendi, from Oklahoma, wrote: 'Michelle Duggar demonizing LGBTQ ppl while her son is the real predator is 1 reason I am LIVID upon hearing this.'

Family: What Michelle did not reveal in the robocall was that, 12 years earlier, in 2002, her eldest child, Josh, had admitted to her and her husband, Jim Bob Duggar, that he had molested at least one young girl. Above, Josh (center) stands beside his mother (far left) as he and his daughter are interviewed on 'Extra'

MICHELLE DUGGAR'S 2014 ROBOCALL ABOUT ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BILL 'Hello, this is Michelle Duggar. 'I'm calling to inform you of some shocking news that would affect the safety of Northwest Arkansas women and children. 'The Fayetteville City Council is voting on an ordinance this Tuesday night that would allow men – yes I said men – to use womens and girls restrooms, locker rooms, showers, sleeping areas and other areas that are designated for females only. 'I don't believe the citizens of Fayetteville would want males with past child predator convictions that claim they are female to have a legal right to enter private areas that are reserved for women and girls. 'I doubt that Fayetteville parents would stand for a law that would endanger their daughters or allow them to be traumatized by a man joining them in their private space. 'We should never place the preference of an adult over the safety and innocence of a child. 'Parents, who do you want undressing next to your daughter at the public swimming pool's private changing area? 'I still believe that we are a society that puts women and children first. 'Women, young ladies and little girls deserve to use the restroom or any other facility in peace and safety. Will you speak up for protecting women and children?' Advertisement

A woman called Ruby also emphasized Michelle's 'hypocrisy', tweeting: 'Interesting that Michelle duggar called transgender people child predators when her child is the real predator.'

The robocall was first obtained by the Fayetteville Flyer last August and later published by Think Progress. In it, Michelle also urges voters to 'protect women and children' by opposing the bill.

The bill, brought forward by Alderman Matthew Petty, also lifted public accommodations bans for LGBT and transgender Fayetteville locals, and granted them more housing and employment rights.

A few hours after the police report on Josh's molestation of young girls was unveiled on Thursday, both he and his parents confirmed the claims, with Josh admitting that he had 'acted inexcusably'.

'Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends,' Josh said in a statement.

'I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation.

Happy family snap: Michelle and Jim, Bob beam head out to vote in the latter's 2002 run for a seat in the US Senate with their children. Just months earlier, Josh, now aged 27, had admitted to molesting young girls

Allegations: On May 21, police reports from 2006 were released into the public domain, accusing Josh of molesting five young girls while they were asleep. Josh was a teenager at the time. Above, Josh is seen in Febraury 2015 with his wife Anna, who is pregnant with their fourth child - a baby girl due to arrive in July

'We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling.'

He also resigned from his position at the Family Research Council in Washington D.C.

Jim Bob and Michelle - former Arkansas 'Mother of the Year' - released their own statement, saying: 'Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives.

'When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes, and we were shocked. We had tried to teach him right from wrong.

'That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before.'

The police report detailed Josh's molestation of five minors in 2002 and 2003. He was never charged with a crime for the incidents as by the time police learned of the offenses the statue of limitations had passed, and his parents did not notify authorities in an official capacity at any point.

Both expecting: Anna and her mother-in-law, Michelle, were both pregnant at the same time. Above, this picture of Josh and Anna (right) posing alongside Josh's parents, Jim Bob and Michelle (left) - captured when both Anna and Michelle were pregnant in 2009 - was splashed across many print and online publications

JOSH DUGGAR'S MOLESTATION OF MINORS In March 2002, an unnamed minor said that Josh Duggar, then 14, 'had been touching her breasts and genitals while she slept.' He would admit to this a few months later in July, and a member of the family claims they had a meeting to discuss the incident. Then, in March 2003, 'several' minors came forward to say that Josh had been touching them 'when they sleep,' leading to his father Jim Bob holding another family meeting and deciding to speak with elders at the family's church about the offenses. It was suggested that Josh should enter a treatment program, at which point he spent four months in Little Rock, Arkansas helping a family friend remodel a building. Upon his return, Jim Bob informed those aware of the situation that Josh had received counseling and took him to a family friend who was a state trooper to reveal what had occurred, resulting in the teenager getting a stern lecture but no formal report being filed by police. By all accounts, the offenses stopped and Josh apologized to the victim, but some time in 2006 an individual in the church who had borrowed a book from the Duggars found a note detailing Josh's molestation of minors. That person then sent that information in an email to The Oprah Winfrey Show shortly before the Duggars were set to appear, and they in turn notified authorities who began conducted an investigation. Jim Bob and Michelle along with all the victims were interviewed, though Josh was made unavailable to speak by his parents and no charges were pursued in the end as the statute of limitations had by that point run out. Advertisement

Following the revelations concerning Josh's molestation of young girls, General Mills said it had 'blacklisted' the TLC show, 19 Kids and Counting, and removed it from its advertising schedule.

And on Friday, TLC pulled the show from its schedule. The move came one day after the network decided to run a marathon of the show that heavily featured Josh, which had outraged fans.

TLC is yet to comment on the program's long-term future. It is also yet to address queries over how TLC executives were apparently unaware of Josh's molestation claims following the Oprah incident.

The network has also pulled the Duggars from its Summer Block Party event, Philly.com reported.

On Friday night, Arkansas police confirmed that they had destroyed the report on Josh after one of his victims came forward and requested the document be expunged from public record.

The girl told a judge she feared her name would be released and she was still a minor. The judge agreed and signed off to have the report into the nine-year-old investigation destroyed.