Melissa Gilbert has formally stepped into the legal fight surrounding her husband, submitting an emotional letter to a New Mexico judge as he remains in custody while facing child sexual abuse allegations.
In the letter, which was obtained by ABC News, Gilbert pleaded directly with the court for compassion, referring to Busfield as “my sweet husband” and asking the judge to look after him while he is incarcerated.
“Please, please take care of my sweet husband,” she wrote. “As he is my protector, I am his, but I cannot protect him now, and I think that, more than anything else, is what is truly breaking my heart. I am relying on you to protect him for me.”
Gilbert described Busfield as a man of deep integrity and faith, telling the court, “Tim has the strongest moral compass of any human I have ever known. He has dedicated his spiritual self to always being of service to others.”
She also emphasized his role within their family, particularly his relationship with her son, Michael. “Tim nurtured and guided Michael,” she wrote, adding, “I will never be able to express the depth of gratitude I have to God for bringing this wonderful human into our lives.”
Her letter is one of approximately 70 submitted on Busfield’s behalf, according to court records. Additional letters reportedly came from Busfield’s stepson, Michael, as well as longtime colleagues, including Thirtysomething co-stars Ken Olin and Peter Horton.
The letter comes as Busfield, best known for his role on The West Wing, remains jailed without bond in New Mexico. He turned himself in last week following an arrest tied to allegations that he sexually abused a minor.
According to the criminal complaint, the accusations center on alleged inappropriate contact involving a child actor on the set of The Cleaning Lady.
Court documents state that the child’s parents reported the alleged abuse began in 2022, when the child was seven years old, and continued through 2024. Investigators have said Busfield denied the allegations when questioned.
Busfield’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 20, when a judge will decide whether he remains in custody while the case proceeds. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman has said formal charges will follow, after which Busfield will be arraigned.
If you suspect child sexual abuse or trafficking, resources are available. You can contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453), which is confidential, available 24/7, and offers support in more than 170 languages. Reports involving child exploitation or trafficking can also be made to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline at 1-800-THE-LOST.