Additional Coverage:
Timothy Busfield Faces New Assault Claim Amidst Child Abuse Allegations
Albuquerque, NM – Actor Timothy Busfield, known for his role in “The West Wing,” is now facing a fresh assault claim from an additional alleged victim, according to a motion for pretrial detention filed by prosecutors. This new accusation comes as Busfield is already contending with charges of alleged criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse.
Court documents filed on Wednesday reveal that the father of a 16-year-old girl contacted law enforcement on Tuesday to report alleged abuse that occurred “several years ago.” The teenage girl claims that during an audition, Busfield “kissed her and put his hands down her pants and touched her privates.”
The filing further states that Busfield “begged the family not to report to law enforcement if he received therapy,” a request to which the teenager’s father, who is a therapist, reportedly agreed at the time.
In response to the new allegations, Busfield’s attorney issued a statement on Wednesday, asserting, “Tim Busfield denies the allegations in the criminal complaint and maintains they are completely false. As a voluntary step, he submitted to an independent polygraph examination regarding those allegations and passed.”
Busfield turned himself in to authorities in New Mexico on Tuesday on the initial charges. These stem from accusations that he inappropriately touched a child actor on the set of his show “The Cleaning Lady.”
According to a criminal complaint obtained by ABC News, the child’s parents reported that the alleged abuse began in 2022, when the child was 7, and continued until 2024. Busfield has denied these allegations to investigators.
Melissa Gilbert, Busfield’s wife and fellow actress, released a statement through her publicist on Tuesday, indicating that she “is honoring the request of Tim’s lawyers not to speak publicly while the legal process unfolds… Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”
The new court document argues for Busfield’s continued detention, with prosecutors also accusing him of speaking to the media before his surrender in an alleged attempt to “prioritize personal narrative control.” During a brief court appearance on Wednesday, a judge ordered Busfield to remain in custody in New Mexico without bond.