What Happened: An Albuquerque arrest warrant alleges actor-director Timothy Busfield committed criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse involving two 11-year-old siblings who worked as child actors.
Investigation: The probe began after a UNMH physician reported concerns on Nov. 1, 2024; medical and therapy records cited in the warrant describe behavioral changes and a diagnosis of moderate PTSD in one child.
Other Findings: Warner Bros. recorded an internal complaint alleging Busfield kissed a minor in Dec. 2024. Busfield has denied intentional wrongdoing; representatives have not commented publicly.
Arrest Warrant Issued for 'West Wing' Actor Timothy Busfield Over Alleged Abuse of Two Minors
Steven Ferdman/GettyTimothy Busfield on February 05, 2020 in New York City
An arrest warrant has been issued by the Albuquerque Police Department for actor and director Timothy Busfield, best known for his role as Danny Concannon on The West Wing. According to a copy of the warrant obtained by PEOPLE, Busfield, 68, faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse stemming from allegations involving two siblings who were child actors.
Allegations and Investigation
The warrant, signed by Officer Marvin Kirk Brown and obtained by PEOPLE, alleges the alleged victims are two 11-year-old siblings whose identities have been withheld. One child reportedly told investigators the conduct began when he was seven. The investigation began after a physician at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted police on Nov. 1, 2024.
FOXTimothy Busfield in 'The Cleaning Lady,' season 4 episode 1
According to the warrant, the siblings’ parents said their children worked as child actors on the FOX series The Cleaning Lady, where Busfield served as a director. The families alleged that after Busfield joined the production he "grew closer to the boys" and encouraged them to call him "Uncle Tim." Parents said they had heard rumors that Busfield had been "handsy" with women and minors.
Medical, Therapeutic and Production Records
The warrant references medical and therapeutic records. One therapist reportedly diagnosed a victim, identified in the warrant as SL, with moderate post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety after disclosures of "inappropriate touching." The therapist is quoted in the warrant saying the child reported Busfield had touched and rubbed his penis "3 or 4 times" and had nightmares and bed-wetting following the incidents.
Eric Liebowitz/NBCUniversal via GettyTimothy Busfield as Danny Concannon on 'The West Wing'
Parents told investigators that, before Busfield was hired, production used iPads so parents could monitor children from off-set; they say that practice stopped after Busfield joined the production. Production interviews also reportedly indicated that one child was sometimes unsupervised and his on-set tutor did not always keep track of him.
The warrant cites an internal Warner Bros. inquiry that documented an eyewitness account alleging Busfield entered a hair-and-makeup trailer and kissed a minor male on the face while the child was receiving a haircut in December 2024.
Miguel McSongwe/BFA.com/ShutterstockTimothy Busfield, BeautyCares DreamBall 2025
Busfield’s Statements and Alleged Context
According to the warrant, Busfield acknowledged he was told Warner Bros. was conducting an outside investigation and that the boys named in the complaint were the siblings identified in the warrant. The warrant reports Busfield told investigators he aimed for a "playful environment" on set and said it was "highly likely" he would have picked up or tickled the boys, but denied any intentional wrongdoing. He is quoted as saying touching on set "is not allowed at all" and that interactions would have occurred in front of parents or other people.
The warrant also recounts that Busfield and his wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, had social interactions with the family and gave gifts, which investigators said could be viewed as part of a grooming pattern. Officer Brown wrote that, in his experience, abusers may exploit trust and chaotic set conditions to mask abuse.
Prior Allegations and Responses
The warrant notes prior sexual-assault allegations dating back to 1994. Representatives for Busfield and Gilbert did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment, and FOX and Warner Bros. representatives also did not immediately comment, according to the reporting.
Note: These are allegations contained in an arrest warrant. Charges are accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Support and Resources
If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. Calls are toll-free, confidential, and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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