Melissa Gilbert defends Timothy Busfield amid child abuse charges

Melissa Gilbert emotionally defended her husband Timothy Busfield after he pled not guilty to child sexual abuse charges. 

The 61-year-old actress - who married The West Wing actor in 2013 - made a candid appearance during an interview with George Stephanopoulos on Good Morning America which aired on Monday.  

Busfield was indicted by a grand jury on February 6 and accused of touching two children on set of The Cleaning Lady while filming in Albuquerque between November 2022 and spring 2024.

The Little House On The Prairie star maintained her husband's innocence while also revealing that she had known of his past sexual assault allegations before their marriage. 

'I know this man in my bones. No one knows him better than I do. I know literally everything about him,' she expressed.

'Our marriage has had a lot of ups and downs, we've been through our struggles, we've had our own issues to deal with, and we've worked through everything.' 

Gilbert added that Busfield is 'completely honest with' her and she fully trusts him. 

'I trust him with my children's lives, I trust him with my grandchildren's lives, my nieces and nephews. He is an honorable, caring, generous human being.'

Read More

EXCLUSIVE
What convinced Timothy Busfield's wife that he didn't grope children: 'She would dump his a**'

However, the actress then told the GMA host that their 'life as we knew it is done' and they 'are grieving what we had.' 

She continued, 'For Tim, it's done. He's canceled... even if he's exonerated, he will always be that guy. The last person in the world who would hurt a child.' 

Elsewhere during the interview, Gilbert revealed that she had been 'aware' of other past sexual assault allegations against Busfield before their marriage. 

'I need to make something very abundantly clear,' she began. 

'These allegations have been out in the ether for a very long time. When Tim and I got together, the internet existed.' 

She further expressed, 'I didn't go into my relationship blind. I'm neither naive nor am I complicit,' before adding that she had a previous discussion about the topic with Busfield. 

The actress shared that she 'heard his side of the story - which nobody has ever heard - which is the truth. 

'And when the time is right, and that is not now, Tim will tell the truth of all of these past allegations when he needs to.'

Gilbert also expressed her full belief that Busfield 'will be exonerated.' 

However, the star noted 'that there is a practical side to this and we have to be prepared for all scenarios.' 

The actress was later asked how the allegations against Busfield and the indictment have affected them, causing her to describe it as 'hell.' 

'This has been the most traumatizing experience of our lives.' 

Back in January, an arrest warrant was issued for Busfield for charges of child abuse and criminal sexual contact with a minor. 

He has denied the allegations and previously labeled them as 'lies' and vowed to fight the charges in a video to TMZ. 

'I will confront these lies. I did not do anything to those little boys,' he told the outlet at the time.

Busfield has been accused of inappropriately touching two young boys in 2022 on set of the crime drama series The Cleaning Lady which he was directing.

He then continued, 'I was ordered to come to Albuquerque, and well, I'm here now. I got the call Friday night, I had to get a lawyer, and on Saturday I got a car and drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque.'

The star once again called the allegations lies and said, 'I did not do anything.'

Following his arrest, he was held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Bernalillo County, per documents obtained by the Daily Mail. 

Busfield was released from custody on January 20 - with Gilbert seen weeping in court following the news. 

When the judge ruled that Busfield could be released on his own recognizance, a teary-eyed Gilbert clasped her hands together and whispered, 'Thank you, God.'

Busfield's release came with strict conditions: he must attend all court hearings, stay in contact with the court, and is forbidden from contacting the alleged victims or any minors.

He is also prohibited from possessing firearms, alcohol, or drugs.

In February, Busfield was indicted on four counts of sexual contact with a child by a grand jury.

The case is being prosecuted by the Special Victims Unit of the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office, with DA Sam Bregman pledging to 'do everything possible to protect children and ensure justice for victims.'

According to court documents, one of the alleged victims revealed during therapy that he had been inappropriately touched by Busfield, a statement supported by medical findings. 

During Busfield's court hearing, Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch stated that the evidence against him was 'strong and specific,' further adding that witnesses expressed concerns about potential retaliation and professional harm.

The defense, however, has contested the allegations, arguing that the children initially denied any inappropriate contact with Busfield during police interviews.

They've also suggested that the boys' parents may have coached them to make incriminating statements after they lost roles on The Cleaning Lady.

Busfield has submitted character references and passed an independent polygraph test, which, though controversial, may be used in New Mexico courts.

Known for his roles in The West Wing, Field of Dreams, and Thirtysomething, Busfield now faces a legal battle that will determine his future.