> At a Glance
> – Arrest warrant issued Jan. 9 against actor-director Timothy Busfield for alleged abuse of twin boys on The Cleaning Lady set
> – Melissa Gilbert has called their 12-year marriage “true partnership” and grand-parenting “heavenly”
> – Warner Bros. states it is cooperating with police and prioritizes minor safety
> – Why it matters: The charges shatter the couple’s public image as blissful farm-dwelling grandparents
An arrest warrant obtained by News Of Los Angeles accuses West Wing alum Timothy Busfield of sexually abusing 11-year-old twin brothers-starting when one was 7-while directing episodes of FOX’s The Cleaning Lady in Albuquerque. The complaint surfaced after Warner Bros. Television phoned Busfield to say a formal complaint had been filed; Albuquerque police issued the warrant the same day.
Allegations And Studio Response
According to the warrant, the boys’ parents confronted production after their sons were replaced by a younger actor. Busfield allegedly told detectives the parents were upset about the recasting.
Warner Bros. Television told News Of Los Angeles:
> “The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority, especially the safety of minors… We have been and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement.”
Representatives for both Busfield and Gilbert have not responded to multiple requests for comment.
A Public Love Story
Since marrying in a quiet Santa Barbara ceremony in 2013, Melissa Gilbert has painted married life as effortless synergy:
- The pair live on a 14-acre Catskills farm
- They share eight grandchildren from their blended family
- Gilbert told News Of Los Angeles grand-parenting is “absolutely heavenly” because “we can just play and have fun and give them back”
Last summer, on the I Choose Me podcast, she said their secret is treating marriage as “a partnership” where “everything is discussed, shared… even our arguments are constructive.”
Timeline Of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Gilbert and Busfield meet in a Los Angeles bar |
| Apr 24, 2013 | Couple weds in Santa Barbara |
| Nov 2023 | Gilbert touts “heavenly” grand-parenting in News Of Los Angeles interview |
| July 29, 2024 | Gilbert praises 12-year partnership on podcast |
| Jan 9, 2025 | Albuquerque police issue arrest warrant against Busfield |
Key Takeaways
- The warrant alleges abuse on the set of The Cleaning Lady; one boy claims it began at age 7
- Warner Bros. says it acted immediately and is aiding investigators
- Gilbert has long praised Busfield as a devoted husband and “favorite person”
The charges collide head-on with the couple’s curated image of chickens, grandchildren, and quiet farm life-leaving their public story in sudden, stark disarray.
