More than 70 people wrote letters of support to the judge handling Busfield’s case. His colleagues on ABC’s Emmy Award-winning series “Thirty Something” were among those who attested to his character.
Timothy Busfield granted release in child sex abuse case
A New Mexico judge has ruled that “West Wing” actor Timothy Busfield is not a danger to the community and can fight the charges without being sent to jail.
scripps news
This story contains graphic depictions that some readers may find disturbing.
Since being taken into custody on child sexual abuse charges, actor Timothy Busfield has developed a solid support base among family friends and Hollywood colleagues.
More than 70 people wrote letters to New Mexico judges certifying the 68-year-old’s character, according to a Jan. 16 court filing by Mr. Busfield’s lawyers reviewed by USA TODAY.
Witnesses range from Basfield’s kindergarten friends to neighbors, former co-stars and family members. His wife, actor Melissa Gilbert, her children, and mother Barbara Gilbert Cowan were among the relatives who submitted letters, along with Busfield’s brother and son Samuel Busfield.
“The West Wing” alum co-stars of ABC’s Emmy-winning series “Thirty Something,” including Polly Draper, Peter Horton, Mel Harris, Ken Olin, Patricia Wettig Olin and Melanie Mayron, each wrote positive messages of support, as did showrunners Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick.
Busfield is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse. Prosecutors say he is accused of having “inappropriate physical contact” between late 2022 and early 2024 with two child actors, ages 7 and 8 at the time, who appeared on Busfield’s Fox series “Cleaning Women.”
One of the boys, who has reportedly been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, revealed in an interview at Safe House that Busfield touched the child’s genitals over his clothes several times on set. Prosecutors said his twin brother was “independently exposed to unwanted touching” by Mr. Busfield and “corroborated a pattern of inappropriate physical contact.”
Ms Busfield denied all allegations and claimed the accusations were an act of retaliation for the boys’ reappearance on the show.
‘Thirty Something’ co-stars ‘completely’ trust Timothy Busfield
“I have known Tim up close and personal and over the years. Tim is not only a great actor and a really good director, but more than that, he is a much better person,” Horton wrote in a letter to the judge, noting in part that he has known his former co-star for 38 years.
Wettig-Olin, who played the on-screen couple in Thirty Something, wrote, “We had two kids, ages 3 and 6. It was special to see Tim on set with those kids. He was so much fun.”
“They loved him and trusted him completely. There were also intimate scenes where they cuddled together in bed and played together on the floor. I admired how easily Tim could let go of his personal ego and his own needs so he could be there to give them his full focus and generosity,” she continued.
“He’s a great guy and I have complete confidence in him.”
Busfield’s attorneys collected dozens of letters in about a week. Mr. Busfield surrendered to authorities on January 13th following an arrest warrant issued on January 9th. Mr. Busfield was released on January 20, hours after a judge denied the state’s request to keep him in jail pending trial.
Melissa Gilbert’s son Michael Boxleitner says “Timothy Busfield is my hero”
In a letter to the judge, the actor’s wife of more than 10 years, Gilbert, wrote that Busfield was “my love, my confidant, my partner in business and life. He is my solace and my confidant. His joy, humor and wit brighten my life. Tim is, simply put, the beating heart of our wild and wonderful extended family.”
His mother, Gilbert Cowan, said, “Timothy Busfield made the world a better place,” and Busfield’s “youngest” son, Michael Boxleitner, wrote, “Timothy Busfield is my hero.”
It has been revealed that the family of another alleged victim has come forward in the prosecution’s motion for pre-trial detention.
The man, Colin Swift, told law enforcement on January 13 that Busfield sexually abused his daughter “several years ago” in Northern California. The allegations are not part of any criminal charges against the actor.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline provides free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and Spanish to survivors and their loved ones: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
