TMH protecting the other son by deflecting the media, sure. That's one thing.
However, I do think it bears consideration-- why would TMH add or layer on she would "have a hard time telling him" to this statement... it does lean more towards dramatization/fabrication to me v. protection.
And was this after the report of the person who was on the phone with the minor that week and overheard TMH react strongly to his noting her polygraph? Perhaps extreme... but could it be she was trying to spin another realty to discount the minor's comments that leaked out into the media?
Also, do you have a link to the quote?