As detailed in the arrest warrant affidavit, Busfield is accused of inappropriate conduct involving two young twin actors during the production of the Fox series The Cleaning Lady, which he directed in 2023 and 2024.
The allegations state that Busfield inappropriately touched one of the boys on multiple occasions over his clothing, starting when the child was seven and continuing when he was eight. The boy recounted experiencing this unwelcome contact five to six times initially, and then an additional three to four times the following year.
Fearing repercussions, the boy hesitated to speak up, concerned that Busfield, being the director, might retaliate if he complained.
The affidavit further reveals that the child has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, and has been plagued by nightmares related to these incidents.
Meanwhile, the child’s twin brother also reported that Busfield had touched him, although he did not specify the areas involved.
He expressed his discomfort with the contact to authorities, explaining his silence was due to a fear of getting into trouble.
When Busfield was interviewed by authorities, he suggested that the children’s mother was seeking revenge for the twins being replaced on the show.
He added that he likely had picked up and tickled the boys, as the set was a playful one.
In a video statement to TMZ, Busfield said he “did not do anything to those little boys”.
“Iâm going to confront these lies. Theyâre horrible. Theyâre all lies,â he said.
Busfield, who is married to actor Melissa Gilbert, is known for appearances in The West Wing, Field of Dreams and Thirtysomething and won an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for his role in the latter in 1991.
Gilbert deleted her Instagram account shortly after allegations against her husband surfaced.
The Cleaning Lady, an American crime drama, aired for four seasons on Fox from 2022 to 2025.
The affidavit noted the producer, Warner Bros, had investigated the abuse allegations but was unable to corroborate them. 
The investigation began when a doctor called police to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque on November 1, 2024, after the boys’ parents took them there at the advice of their lawyer.
The mother told Child Protective Services her children were allegedly abused between November 2022 and spring 2024. 
The parents reported Busfield had grown close to their children when he came in as the new director of the show and told them to call him “Uncle Tim”.
Once the parents discovered allegations of sexual assault against Busfield from both minors and women, they asked their children if anyone had touched them in an uncomfortable manner.
The affidavit said that the children reportedly responded: “You mean like Uncle Tim?”
