Actor and director Timothy Busfield broke down in tears while firmly denying allegations that he sexually abused two young twin brothers, telling a grand jury that the accusations have destroyed his life and career.
The 69-year-old West Wing alum delivered emotional testimony before a grand jury in February, repeatedly insisting he had never behaved inappropriately with a child.
“I didn’t do this,” Busfield told jurors. “I have never, ever been inappropriate in any way, physically, sexually in any way with a child, a prepubescent little boy.”
Busfield continued by saying such behavior would be completely unacceptable, especially in the workplace.
“I would never allow it at work,” he said. “It’s absolutely taboo and would never do it. And never have done it, ever.”
The Emmy-winning actor and director has been charged with four counts of criminal sexual contact involving a child under the age of 13.
Prosecutors allege the incidents involved twin boys who worked on the Albuquerque, New Mexico, set of the television drama The Cleaning Lady.
Busfield has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His trial is currently scheduled for May 2027.
Busfield, who has been married to Little House on the Prairie actress Melissa Gilbert since 2013, served as an executive producer on The Cleaning Lady and occasionally directed episodes of the series between 2022 and 2025.
During roughly two hours of grand jury testimony, Busfield repeatedly denied the allegations and claimed the twins’ mother accused him after the children’s roles on the television series were cut.
“She wanted revenge, and she got it,” Busfield testified.
He maintained that he was never alone with the young actors while working on the show and claimed that numerous other people were routinely around whenever he interacted with them.
Busfield also said the children referred to him as “Uncle Tim” and argued that any physical contact he had with them was innocent and often encouraged by their parents.
“The dad would say, ‘Go hug Uncle Tim,’ so I would touch them then. I never initiated that,” Busfield testified.
He acknowledged putting his arms around the boys and joking around with them for photographs but strongly denied ever touching them in a sexual or inappropriate manner.
“Did I have my arms around those boys? Absolutely,” he said.
He described occasions when the parents would ask the children to pose for photographs with him, including moments when he would playfully tickle them under the ribs.
But Busfield insisted there was never anything inappropriate behind those interactions.
“Did I ever touch them inappropriately? Never ever once,” he told the grand jury.
Busfield also argued that engaging in the behavior he is accused of would amount to “career suicide.”
Whatever the outcome of the criminal case, Busfield told jurors that the accusations have already devastated the career he spent decades building in Hollywood.
Through tears, he claimed he has lost television projects and said his talent agency dropped him following the allegations.
“I’ll never work again just based on people’s fear that I would do this again,” Busfield said. “I’ve lost TV shows. My agency fired me. I’m done.”
Busfield has worked in television and film for decades as both an actor and director, but his future in Hollywood now remains uncertain as he prepares to fight the charges in court.
He continues to deny all allegations against him and has pleaded not guilty. His criminal trial is set for May 2027.