Actor Timothy Busfield Charged With Child Sexual Abuse as Court Records Detail Alleged On-Set Conduct
Actor and director Timothy Busfield, best known for his role on The West Wing, is facing criminal charges in New Mexico following allegations of child sexual abuse involving a young actor on the set of the television series The Cleaning Lady.
An arrest warrant issued by the Albuquerque Police Department charges Busfield, 68, with two counts of criminal sexual contact involving a child and one count of child abuse. The alleged incidents are said to have occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024, when the child was between seven and eight years old. Busfield has denied the allegations.
Allegations and Investigation
According to court documents reviewed by multiple news outlets, the investigation began in November 2024 after a physician at the University of New Mexico Hospital reported concerns of possible child sexual abuse to authorities following a medical examination.
The child’s mother later reported to Child Protective Services that Busfield allegedly touched her son inappropriately on multiple occasions while working as a director and actor on The Cleaning Lady. The child told investigators he was afraid to report the behavior at the time because Busfield held a position of authority on set and he feared angering him.
Medical and social work assessments cited in the complaint state that the child has since been diagnosed with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder and has experienced recurring nightmares related to the alleged abuse.
The child’s twin brother did not allege sexual abuse but told investigators that Busfield frequently tickled him on his stomach and legs, describing the contact as unwanted and uncomfortable.
Alleged Grooming and Boundary Violations
In the arrest warrant, Busfield told investigators that he and his wife, actor Melissa Gilbert, had a friendly relationship with the family and had purchased Christmas gifts for the children. He also acknowledged attending several social gatherings with them.
An investigating officer wrote that these actions appeared to foster closeness beyond professional boundaries and described them as consistent with grooming behavior, noting that such conduct can be used to normalise physical contact and reduce suspicion. No judicial determination has been made on this characterization.
Busfield told police he did not recall overtly picking up or tickling the children but said it was “highly likely” he had physical contact with them. He also stated there was no formal protocol governing physical interaction between adults and children on the set.
Studio Response
Warner Bros. Television, which produced The Cleaning Lady, confirmed that it had previously conducted an internal investigation into the allegations but said it was unable to substantiate the claims at the time.
In a statement, the company said it takes allegations of misconduct seriously and is cooperating with law enforcement authorities.
Melissa Gilbert’s Public Statements
The arrest warrant became public weeks after Busfield’s wife, actor Melissa Gilbert, posted comments on social media criticizing people she described as “playing the victim” and refusing to take accountability. Although the posts did not reference the case directly, they drew renewed attention following the release of court records.
In a separate post last November, Gilbert reflected on her own experiences as a child actor and spoke about the dangers of sexual exploitation in the entertainment industry, recalling being asked to kiss an adult co-star at the age of 15.
Legal Status
Court records detailing Busfield’s initial court appearance or bond conditions were not immediately available. Authorities have said the case remains under investigation. Busfield, an Emmy Award winner, has worked extensively in television, film, and theater, with notable roles in Thirtysomething, Field of Dreams, and The West Wing. He has been married to Gilbert since 2013. Law enforcement officials stress that the charges remain allegations and that Busfield is entitled to the presumption of innocence as the case proceeds through the courts.
