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By Jordan King
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Melissa Gilbert’s publicist has said the actor “stands with and supports her husband," Timothy Busfield, who is facing child sex abuse allegations.
Emmy Award-winning actor and director Busfield surrendered himself to police on Tuesday, following New Mexico authorities issuing an arrest warrant for the 68-year-old on Friday after a mother reported that he had touched her children inappropriately.
Busfield has denied the allegations. His attorney Larry Stein said in a statement given to Newsweek: “The claims being made against Tim are completely false, and we will fight this to the end until the truth prevails.”
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Gilbert’s publicist Ame Van Iden told Newsweek that “any purported 'statements' circulating online — including AI-generated deepfakes of her ‘breaking her silence’ — should not be treated as coming from her.”
“Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time,” Iden added.
Newsweek has contacted the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), via email for comment.
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Why It Matters
The case against Timothy Busfield, involving alleged abuse of minors on a network television set, will likely intensify scrutiny of child safety safeguards within the entertainment industry.
The involvement of federal officials, such as the U.S. Marshals Service, underscores the seriousness of the accusations and the coordinated efforts to address them. Public reactions have highlighted both concern for due process and the longstanding challenges of handling allegations involving high-profile industry figures and children.
What To Know
Gilbert, 61, rose to fame for her portrayal of Laura Ingalls Wilder on the long-running NBC family drama Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983). During and after Little House, Gilbert appeared in numerous television films and projects, including The Miracle Worker and The Diary of Anne Frank, according to her IMDb profile.
Van Iden said in a statement: “Melissa Gilbert is not making public statements at this time. Any purported ‘statements’ circulating online — including AI-generated deepfakes of her ‘breaking her silence’ — should not be treated as coming from her. She is honoring the request of Tim’s lawyers not to speak publicly while the legal process unfolds. During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment. Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time. We ask that their privacy be respected.”
It comes after an AI-generated video was circulated online purporting to show Gilbert commenting on the case.
New Mexico authorities issued an arrest warrant for Busfield alleging two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.
The complaints stem from reports that Busfield, while directing the Fox television series The Cleaning Lady, inappropriately touched two child actors over a period spanning from November 2022 to the spring of 2024, according to court records reviewed by Newsweek.
The initial inquiry did not lead to charges, but in October 2025, the mother of the alleged victims made a formal report to Child Protective Services.
When Busfield was questioned by the investigator, he said the children's parents had a "problem" with one of the children being replaced with a younger actor at one point, and that Warner Bros. Television had told him in the spring of 2025 that it was carrying out an investigation and that there had been complaints about him from the boys.
His attorney Stein reiterated this claim, saying: “As reflected in the criminal complaint, after her son was terminated from the show, the boy’s mother vowed to ‘get her revenge against Timothy Busfield.’ What followed appears to be a calculated effort to construct a case, driven by animus not fact, despite prior investigations finding no evidence of wrongdoing.”
Before this criminal investigation, Warner Bros. had carried out an independent probe into claims against Busfield.
Stein has circulated a statement from the investigator involved, Christina McGovern, who said: “Based on what was alleged, and all evidence gathered, including multiple witness statements, I found no corroborating evidence that Mr. Busfield engaged in inappropriate conduct or that he was ever alone with the twins on set.”
What People Are Saying
Warner Bros. told Newsweek: “The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority, especially the safety of minors on our productions. We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and have systems in place to promptly and thoroughly investigate, and when needed, take appropriate action. We are aware of the current charges against Mr. Busfield and have been and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement.”
What Happens Next
Timothy Busfield is currently being held without bail pending further legal proceedings. No official date for his initial court appearance has been publicly released.
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