At a Glance
- Timothy Busfield, 68, was charged on January 13 with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse
- East Tennessee State University removed all mentions of Busfield from its website one day after the charges
- The allegations involve 11-year-old twin boys who met Busfield on the set of The Cleaning Lady in 2022
- Why it matters: The swift removal signals how institutions distance themselves from public figures facing serious criminal allegations
Timothy Busfield’s name has vanished from East Tennessee State University’s website just one day after the actor was formally charged with sexually abusing minors. The university, which awarded Busfield an honorary doctorate in May 2024, scrubbed every reference to him, including a planned commencement speech and alumni hall of fame listing.
Busfield, best known for The West Wing, faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. The charges stem from alleged incidents involving 11-year-old twin boys who worked as child actors on the FOX series The Cleaning Lady.
University Cuts Ties Within 24 Hours
As of January 14, Busfield’s profile, interviews, and speaking engagements no longer appear on the ETSU site. Pages that previously featured him included:
- “5 Questions with Timothy Busfield”
- “Alumni Hall of Fame”
- “Timothy Busfield to speak at ETSU’s spring Commencement”
Busfield briefly attended ETSU in the 1970s but did not graduate. A university spokesperson did not respond to News Of Los Angeles‘s request for comment.
Allegations Span Two Years
According to the arrest warrant obtained by News Of Los Angeles, the twin boys allege that Busfield’s abuse began in November 2022 and continued through Spring 2024.
Key timeline:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Nov 2022 | Alleged abuse begins |
| Nov 1 2024 | UNMH doctor alerts police |
| Oct 2025 | Mother files police report |
| Jan 13 2025 | Busfield charged and surrenders |
| Jan 14 2025 | First court appearance, held without bond |
The boys’ parents told News Of Los Angeles they met Busfield when he directed episodes of The Cleaning Lady season 2. One boy claims the abuse started when he was 7 years old.
Second Accuser Emerges
On the same day Busfield was charged, a California father, Colin Swift, reported to Albuquerque police that Busfield had allegedly abused his 16-year-old daughter “several years ago” at Sacramento’s B Street Theatre.
The pretrial detention motion states Busfield:
- Kissed the teen
- Put his hands down her pants
- Begged the family not to report him if he entered therapy
Swift, a therapist, agreed at the time, believing treatment was the best course.
Warner Bros. Opens Investigation
After an initial police report in October 2025, Warner Bros. Television launched an independent probe. An individual claimed to have seen Busfield “kiss a minor male on the face” in a hair and make-up trailer during December 2024.
A studio representative told News Of Los Angeles:
> “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 Proclaims Innocence
In a video obtained by TMZ before surrendering, Busfield said:
> “I’m gonna confront these lies. They’re horrible… I did not do anything to those little boys and I’m gonna fight it… I’m gonna be exonerated.”
Busfield drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque after receiving the arrest order Friday night.
Wife Melissa Gilbert Stays Silent
Melissa Gilbert, married to Busfield since 2013, will not comment publicly, per her representative:
> “She is honoring the request of Tim’s lawyers not to speak publicly while the legal process unfolds… Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”
The couple’s large family is her current focus, the statement added.
Key Takeaways
- Institutions can move quickly to disassociate from individuals charged with serious crimes
- The case involves multiple alleged victims across different states and years
- Busfield remains in Bernalillo County custody without bond pending a pretrial detention hearing
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or visit www.childhelp.org.
