‘West Wing’ Actor Timothy Busfield Faces Arrest Warrant Over Alleged Abuse of Minors

Timothy Busfield, actor and husband of Melissa Gilbert, is facing serious legal trouble. The former “West Wing” star has an arrest warrant issued in Albuquerque, New Mexico, over allegations of s**** abuse involving two minor boys, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.

Busfield, 68, is charged with two counts of criminal s**** contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. The alleged victims are 11-year-old twin boys whose identities have been kept private. Authorities say the abuse may have started when one of the boys was seven.

The case came to light in November 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital reported suspected abuse to police. Officer Marvin Kirk Brown, who issued the warrant, noted that the children were child actors and met Busfield on the set of the FOX series “The Cleaning Lady,” where he directed episodes.

The arrest warrant claims Busfield “grew closer” to the boys, and their parents said he encouraged them to call him “Uncle Tim.” The parents also mentioned past rumors alleging inappropriate behavior by Busfield toward women and minors.

According to the affidavit, the boys initially disclosed only that Busfield tickled them on their stomachs and legs. No s***** contact was reported at that time, and authorities did not pursue charges. However, in September 2025, one child reported to a counselor and later to his pediatrician that Busfield had touched his genitals and bottom. The other twin reportedly said he did not like being touched but did not initially speak up.

The affidavit also details a separate investigation by Warner Bros. Television after an anonymous complaint in December 2024. The allegation involved Busfield kissing a boy on the face in the hair and makeup trailer. An outside investigator hired by Warner Bros. could not substantiate the claim. Detective Brown wrote that Warner Bros. made it difficult for law enforcement to obtain information for the case.

Warner Bros. released a statement saying: “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.”

The series “The Cleaning Lady” ran from January 2022 until June 2025. FOX has not commented on the investigation. Elodie Yung, the show’s lead actress, told police she did not want to be involved in the case.

Busfield’s legal representative has not responded to requests for comment. The arrest warrant was issued by a judge on January 9, 2026.

This case is deeply concerning, highlighting the responsibility of productions to protect child actors and ensure a safe working environment. Allegations of abuse, especially involving minors, must be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. Busfield, a longtime figure in Hollywood, now faces serious legal scrutiny.

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