Timothy Busfield surrendered to Albuquerque police January 13 after a warrant charged him with criminal sexual contact of two 11-year-old twins and one count of child abuse, according to the arrest warrant obtained by News Of Losangeles.
At a Glance
- Busfield, 68, faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse
- The alleged abuse occurred on the set of FOX’s The Cleaning Lady from November 2022 to spring 2024
- Warner Bros. documented an alleged incident in December 2024 where Busfield kissed a minor on the face
- Why it matters: The case highlights how alleged abusers can exploit film-set access to minors
The actor, married to Melissa Gilbert and known for The West Wing, posted a video via TMZ denying wrongdoing. “I did not do anything wrong,” he said, adding he drove 2,000 miles to confront “horrible lies.”
The Allegations
The twins met Busfield when he directed season 2 of The Cleaning Lady, which aired in 2022. A University of New Mexico Hospital doctor alerted police November 1, 2024, launching the investigation.
Parents told investigators Busfield encouraged the boys to call him “Uncle Tim.” After hearing rumors of prior assault claims, the mother asked her sons if anyone had touched them inappropriately. They replied, “You mean like Uncle Tim?” professionals later concluded the boys “were groomed,” the warrant states.
Initially, the children only said Busfield “would tickle them on the stomach and legs,” so the case did not meet hospital acceptance criteria.
New Disclosures
On October 3, 2025, the mother filed a police report stating both children disclosed sexual abuse from November 2022 to spring 2024. Authorities reportedly said physical abuse had not occurred, limiting action.
The mother returned September 2 and 22, 2025, saying one boy told his counselor Busfield inappropriately touched him. The child’s therapist diagnosed moderate PTSD and anxiety, noting nightmares about the director “touching and rubbing his penis 3 or 4 times.” Bed-wetting and behavioral issues followed.
Studio Response
Warner Bros. Television told News Of Losangeles: “The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority, especially the safety of minors on our productions. We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and have systems in place to promptly and thoroughly investigate, and when needed, take appropriate action. [We] have been and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement.”
Busfield’s Statements
Busfield allegedly told police the parents were angry their sons were replaced by a younger actor. He claimed an actress said the mother “wanted revenge.”
When asked if he picked up or tickled the boys, he reportedly replied it was “highly likely” to maintain a “playful environment,” adding any contact happened “in front of the parents.” He denied weird moments and said he “doesn’t really remember picking those boys up,” though he recalled lifting a different child to help him act.
Busfield admitted he and his wife socialized with the family outside work, buying Christmas gifts and attending functions together.
Investigators’ View
Officer Brown wrote that Busfield, as a producer, “exploited the hectic film sets to tickle and touch SL on his penis and buttocks, masking it as play.” The warrant alleges he invited the family to off-set gatherings and gave gifts “to foster closeness, making SL feel special and dependent-classic grooming to erode boundaries, isolate the victim, and silence suspicions by blending abuse into normalcy.”
A Warner Bros. internal report documented a December 2024 incident where Busfield allegedly “entered and kissed a minor male on the face as the minor was getting a haircut.”
Busfield’s next court steps remain undisclosed.
