Actor Timothy Busfield has surrendered to authorities in New Mexico as he faces serious allegations involving child sex abuse, and he’s publicly denying the claims in a newly surfaced video, insisting he plans to fight the case.
Busfield, best known for playing Danny Concannon on The West Wing and married to actress Melissa Gilbert, turned himself in to police on Tuesday, (Jan. 13), PEOPLE confirmed. The surrender comes days after the Albuquerque Police Department issued an arrest warrant for Busfield on January 9, alleging he engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with two minor boys.
In a video obtained by TMZ, Busfield directly addressed the accusations and denied wrongdoing.
“I did not do anything wrong,” he said, before explaining he was ordered to return to Albuquerque and quickly had to put together legal representation.
Busfield claimed he received the call on Friday night, hired an attorney, and then drove roughly 2,000 miles to New Mexico.
“I’m gonna confront these lies,” he said, calling the allegations “horrible.” He went on to insist the accusations are false and vowed to clear his name.
“They’re all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys and I’m gonna fight it,” Busfield said. “I’m gonna fight it with a great team, and I’m gonna be exonerated.”
He closed the video with a message suggesting he hopes to return to work soon and thanked supporters.
According to the arrest warrant, Busfield is accused of unlawful sexual conduct involving 11-year-old twin boys. The warrant alleges the boys met Busfield on the set of FOX’s The Cleaning Lady, where he joined the production as a director in Season 2, which aired in 2022.
The investigation reportedly began in November 2024, after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted police about alleged sexual abuse. The warrant outlines claims that Busfield became close with the boys and their family, with the children allegedly being encouraged to refer to him as “Uncle Tim.”
While early evaluations did not initially produce disclosures of sexual contact, later reports from the children’s mother and therapist included more graphic claims. The warrant alleges one child experienced symptoms, including nightmares and anxiety, and was diagnosed with moderate PTSD and anxiety tied to the allegations.
Busfield, however, has pushed back against the accusations. The warrant stated Busfield suggested the twins' parents may have been upset about casting decisions and claimed the environment on set was meant to be playful, while denying inappropriate behavior.
Busfield’s side has also pointed to a studio-led review that, they argue, did not support the claims. Attorney Christina McGovern told TMZ she conducted a separate investigation into the allegations known to the studio at the time and was given wide authority by Warner Bros. to carry it out.
She said that, based on the information presented and evidence collected, including multiple witness accounts, she found no evidence that Busfield acted inappropriately and no indication that he was ever alone with the twins on set.