Actor and director Timothy Busfield faces two counts of sexual abuse involving a minor in New Mexico after an arrest warrant was issued Friday.
The investigation concerns twins who were actors in the 2022 television series “The Cleaning Lady,” of which Busfield was a director. One of the boys told an investigator last fall that Busfield touched his “private areas” when he was seven, and then again when he was eight, while they were on set.
According to an Albuquerque police affidavit, the boy said he was “very afraid of Tim and was relieved when he left.”
The “West Wing,” “Field of Dreams” and “Thirtysomething” actor directed six episodes of “The Cleaning Lady,” which aired on Fox from 2022 to 2025.
According to the affidavit, Busfield spoke to police by phone in November. He was asked if he had “physical contact” with the boys and if he had hugged and tickled them.
“Timothy said it was very likely he would have done it,” the affidavit states.
Busfield then said the boys’ parents would be there and it wouldn’t be “weird.” He later said he didn’t remember picking up those boys.
“I don’t remember those boys,” he said. “No, I don’t. In fact, I don’t remember, if it ever happened. I don’t remember ever openly tickling boys, but it wouldn’t be uncommon for me.”
The 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office declined to comment. Warner Bros. released a statement Friday evening confirming that the studio is cooperating with authorities.
“The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority, especially the safety of minors in our productions,” Warner Bros. said. TV in a press release. “We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and have systems in place to promptly and thoroughly investigate and, if necessary, take appropriate action. We are aware of the current charges against Mr. Busfield and have cooperated and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement.”
According to the affidavit, Warner Bros. conducted an investigation in 2025 after SAG-AFTRA received an anonymous complaint regarding a separate incident in December 2024.
The complaint alleged that Busfield kissed a boy on the face in the hair and makeup trailer, and that he tickled and stroked the boys’ heads. Warner Bros. brought in an external investigator who was unable to substantiate this claim.
Albuquerque Police Detective. Marvin Brown alleged in the affidavit that Warner Bros. “made it very difficult to obtain information about this case.” The detective obtained a search warrant to obtain a copy of the investigation report, but it was not turned over until three months later, he wrote.
When the detective contacted other child actors on the show to ensure their safety, Warner Bros. told him he would have to go through his lawyers to talk to employees, the affidavit states.
Warner Bros. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
When Busfield joined the show, he “became closer to the boys,” the affidavit states, which continues: “It was reported that Timothy told his children to call him ‘Uncle Tim.’
A police officer first spoke with the parents and boys in 2024, after police received a report from their doctor. At the time, the boys did not disclose any sexual contact to the officer and police declined to press charges.
However, in September 2025, one of the children reported to his counselor, and then his pediatrician, that Busfield had “touched him on the penis and buttocks.”
The other brother said “he didn’t like being touched, but he didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to get in trouble,” according to the complaint.
In her interview with police, Busfield said she heard Elodie Yung, the show’s lead actress, say the boys’ mother “wanted revenge” because her sons were not brought back for the final season.
Yung refused to speak to police, saying she “did not want to be involved in the investigation,” the affidavit states.
The arrest warrant was issued by a judge Friday afternoon. Busfield’s legal representative did not respond to request for comment.
