Timothy Busfield, the 68-year-old actor known for his role as Danny Concannon on The West Wing, has been charged with serious allegations of child sexual abuse. The charges include two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse. An arrest warrant issued by the Albuquerque Police Department outlines allegations involving two eleven-year-old twins, with one claiming that inappropriate incidents began when he was just seven years old.
The investigation commenced on November 1, 2024, after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted law enforcement regarding potential sexual abuse. According to the arrest warrant, the victims’ parents reported that the boys had been child actors who met Busfield while he directed episodes of the television series The Cleaning Lady. This series aired from 2022 until 2025.
The warrant details that Busfield allegedly developed a close relationship with the boys, often encouraging them to refer to him as “Uncle Tim.” The parents indicated that they had learned about allegations against Busfield involving both women and minors. After being informed of these allegations, the boys’ mother asked her sons if anyone had ever made them feel uncomfortable. They reportedly responded, “You mean like Uncle Tim?”
Following this conversation, the boys were taken to the hospital, where professionals suggested that they might have been groomed. At that time, the children did not disclose any explicit sexual contact but mentioned that Busfield would tickle them on the stomach and legs. The case was initially determined not to meet the criteria for further action.
On October 3, 2025, the situation escalated when the boys’ mother filed a police report with Child Protective Services. During this report, she stated that her children disclosed instances of sexual abuse by Busfield between November 2022 and Spring 2024. One of the twins reportedly told his counselor about inappropriate touching, which led to a diagnosis of moderate post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. The child experienced nightmares and expressed fear of telling anyone because he thought Busfield might retaliate due to his position as a director.
In the arrest warrant, the mother also noted a change in practices on set after Busfield was hired. She claimed that crew members used to provide iPads to parents to monitor their children, but this practice ceased with Busfield’s involvement.
When questioned by police, Busfield suggested that the boys’ parents were upset about their sons being replaced by a younger actor. He acknowledged that he was aware of the allegations against him and stated that Warner Bros. had initiated an external investigation following complaints from the boys.
Busfield also indicated that he had a personal relationship with the boys and their family, citing that he and his wife, Melissa Gilbert, often socialized with them and provided gifts during the holidays. However, during the investigation, a production assistant reported that the boys were often unsupervised on set, raising concerns about the actor’s opportunities for inappropriate behavior.
The warrant included statements from individuals involved in the production, with one alleging that they had witnessed an incident where Busfield kissed a minor on the face while the child was receiving a haircut in the hair and makeup trailer in December 2024.
The arrest warrant further indicated that Busfield had faced previous sexual assault allegations dating back to 1994.
As of now, Timothy Busfield has not publicly addressed these charges. The unfolding situation continues to draw attention as the investigation progresses, highlighting the importance of vigilance in protecting minors within the entertainment industry.