Timothy Busfield’s seven-word response when confronted with claims he touched twin boys on set
Timothy Busfield is fiercely denying inappropriately touching twin child actors when confronted with the explosive allegations, declaring: “I didn’t do this. I have never, ever been inappropriate.”
The Emmy-winning actor and director, 69, repeatedly maintained his innocence during more than two hours of grand jury testimony in Albuquerque, New Mexico, according to audio obtained by the Daily Mail.
Busfield is charged with four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under 13 involving twin brothers who appeared on “The Cleaning Lady,” which he produced and worked as a director on from 2022 to 2025.
Actor Timothy Busfield is fiercely denying inappropriately touching twin child actors, declaring: “I didn’t do this.”Getty Images
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The actor and director maintained his innocence during grand jury testimony in Albuquerque, New Mexico.©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
“I have never, ever been inappropriate in any way, physically, sexually in any way with a child, a prepubescent little boy. I am not attracted to that,” Busfield told the grand jury in February.
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“I have never been attracted to that. I’ve only been and always been attracted to adult women, or post-pubescent women, throughout my entire life.
“I’ve never ever been inappropriate like that. Certainly, I would never allow it at work… It’s absolutely taboo and would never ever do it. And never have done it, ever.”
Busfield became emotional as he described the devastating impact the allegations have had on his life and career.
“My life is done because of these false allegations for money and for revenge,” he said through tears.
Busfield became emotional as he described the devastating impact the allegations have had on his life and career.Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court
Busfield, who denies the allegations, claimed the boys’ mother sought revenge after the twins’ roles on “The Cleaning Lady” were cut.
“She wanted revenge and she got it,” he testified. “I’m done… Thank God I’m in retirement age, but I’m done.”
The actor acknowledged having physical contact with the boys on set but insisted it was never inappropriate.
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The actor acknowledged having physical contact with the boys on set but insisted it was never inappropriate.Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court
Busfield said he had a close relationship with the children and their parents, and that the twins would often call him “Uncle Tim.”
“The dad would say, ‘Go hug Uncle Tim,’ so I would touch them then. I never initiated that,” he said.
“Did I have my arms around those boys? Absolutely. In pictures, absolutely… In pictures, when the parents ask you to smile and give them a tickle under the ribs like you would your own kid? Yes. Did I ever touch them inappropriately? Never ever once, with any prepubescent boy.”
Busfield maintained that he was never alone with the child actors on set and said there were often dozens of witnesses around while he worked with them.
At one point, the gravity of the testimony appeared to weigh on him.
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Busfield maintained he was never alone with the child actors and said there were often dozens of witnesses around.Getty Images
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“I’m nervous… This is all very real and the stakes are very high,” he said.
Busfield also said he had no memory of the alleged incidents, telling the grand jury: “I don’t remember ever kissing either one of those boys.”
He claimed he could produce evidence that would vindicate him, including alleged audio of the twins telling investigators that they were not inappropriately touched by him, reported the Daily Mail.
Busfield also said he had taken a lie detector test, but was told by prosecutors that such tests are not admissible in court in most states.
Busfield, pictured with his wife Melissa Gilbert, also said he had taken a lie detector test.Getty Images
He argued that committing sexual abuse on a television set would amount to “career suicide.”
“It’s career suicide of me going in and committing a sexual assault on anybody. I’ve never done that to anybody,” he testified.
“The fact that I would sexually assault a prepubescent little boy with my boss and the boss of the studio there, and then get hired back to run the show, would be completely unprecedented.”
Busfield claimed the twins were ultimately cut from “The Cleaning Lady” because they had outgrown their roles, while maintaining that their parents were upset over the decision.
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Gilbert has stood by her husband throughout the case and does not believe his accusers.Getty Images
“The problem with the kids is they outgrew the role. With COVID and renegotiations of contracts. They were supposed to be 6–7 years old,” he said.
An investigation began in November 2024 after a University of New Mexico Hospital staff member reported concerns that the boys were being groomed by Busfield after their mother brought them in for an examination because she suspected they had been sexually abused, according to the outlet.
Hospital staff reportedly found no evidence of abuse.
Busfield was released without bail following his arrest in January and was formally indicted in February.
He has been married to former “Little House on the Prairie” child star Melissa Gilbert since 2013. Gilbert has stood by her husband throughout the case and does not believe his accusers.
Busfield is scheduled to stand trial on May 10, 2027.
