West Wing actor Timothy Busfield turns himself in over child sex abuse claims

Director and Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday to face child sex abuse charges in New Mexico, stemming from allegations that he inappropriately touched a minor on the set of a TV series he was directing.

His apprehension comes after authorities in Albuquerque issued a warrant for his arrest on Friday, on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.

A criminal complaint alleges the acts occurred on the set of the series The Cleaning Lady, which was filmed in Albuquerque.

Busfield, who is married to actor Melissa Gilbert, is known for appearances in The West Wing, Field of Dreams and Thirtysomething, the latter of which won him an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series in 1991.

Busfield was being booked by Albuquerque police on the charges, said Gilbert Gallegos, spokesperson for the city police department.

Busfield denied the allegations last autumn when interviewed by authorities as part of an investigation, the complaint said.

NBC shelved an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit which featured Busfield and was set to air on Thursday, a network spokesperson said.

Busfield was guest-starring as the judge on the long-running show, which focuses on sex crimes.

The criminal complaint filed by an investigator with the Albuquerque Police Department says the boy reported that he was seven when Busfield touched him three or four times on private areas over his clothing.

Busfield allegedly touched him five or six times on another occasion when he was eight, the complaint said.

The child was reportedly afraid to tell anyone because Busfield was the director and he feared he would get mad at him, the complaint said.

The boy’s twin brother told authorities he was touched by Busfield but did not specify where. He said he did not say anything because he did not want to get in trouble.

When interviewed by authorities, Busfield suggested that the boys’ mother was seeking revenge for her children being replaced on the series.

He also said he probably would have picked up and tickled the boys, saying the set was a playful environment.

A video obtained by TMZ showed Busfield in front of a window with the Albuquerque skyline in the backdrop. He said he arrived in the city after driving 2,000 miles.

“I’m going to confront these lies. They’re horrible. They’re all lies,” Busfield said.

The mother of the twins, who are identified only by their initials in court records, reported to Child Protective Services that the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024, the complaint said.

Melissa Gilbert indicated through a publicist that she will not speak publicly at the request of lawyers for Busfield while the legal process unfolds.

“Her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family,” publicist Ame Van Iden said in a statement. “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”

The investigation began in November 2024, when the investigator responded to a call from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque.

The boys’ parents had gone there at the recommendation of a law firm, the complaint said.

According to the complaint, one of the boys has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. A social worker documented him saying he has had nightmares about Busfield touching him.

The Cleaning Lady aired for four seasons on Fox, ending in 2025. The show was produced by Warner Bros, which according to the complaint conducted its own investigation into the abuse allegations but was unable to corroborate them.