Timothy Busfield, 68, was indicted by a New Mexico grand jury on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child, according to Bernalillo County prosecutors. Authorities say the alleged abuse occurred while filming the Fox drama "The Cleaning Lady" and involved twin boys who were seven or eight at the time; they are now 11. Busfield surrendered on Jan. 13, denied the allegations in a pre-surrender video and was released about a week later after a judge found insufficient evidence for pre-trial detention. The indictment formalizes the accusation but the charges have not been proven in court.
Timothy Busfield Indicted by New Mexico Grand Jury on Child Sex Abuse Charges; Actor Denies Allegations
Director and actor Timothy Busfield looks on before a hearing in the Second District Judicial Court at the Bernalillo County Courthouse, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S., January 20, 2026. Sam Wasson/Pool via REUTERS
Feb 6 (Reuters) - Timothy Busfield, the 68-year-old U.S. actor and director best known for his role on "The West Wing," was indicted by a New Mexico grand jury on child sex abuse charges, the Bernalillo County prosecutor's office in Albuquerque said on Friday.
Prosecutors say a criminal complaint filed by Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman alleges Busfield abused twin boys over a two-year period while production was underway for the Fox crime drama "The Cleaning Lady." The complaint states the alleged incidents occurred when the boys were seven or eight years old; they are now 11.
Busfield surrendered to authorities on Jan. 13. In a video recorded before he turned himself in, he denied the accusations as "lies" and said he expected to be exonerated.
About a week after his surrender, a judge ordered Busfield released from custody, finding there was insufficient evidence to justify pre-trial detention. On Thursday, a grand jury voted to indict him on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child, a third-degree felony under New Mexico law. The indictment had not been publicly filed by Friday morning.
Allegations, Role and Response
The district attorney's original criminal complaint says the alleged misconduct occurred while "The Cleaning Lady" was filming in Albuquerque. Busfield served as an executive producer on the series and is accused of directing some episodes. Prosecutors say the alleged victims were children working on or present during production; the complaint provides details that prompted the felony charges.
Busfield could not immediately be reached for additional comment. His defense attorney, Christopher Dodd, did not respond to inquiries from Reuters. The matter remains an active criminal case, and the allegations have not been proven in court.
Background
Busfield is widely recognized for his television roles, including a White House reporter on NBC's political drama "The West Wing" (1999–2006) and an advertising executive on ABC's 1980s ensemble series "Thirtysomething." He is married to actress Melissa Gilbert, a former president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Note: The reporting in this article is based on the criminal complaint and grand jury action. An indictment is an allegation; the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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