Timothy Busfield’s Law & Order: SVU Episode Pulled from NBC After Arrest Warrant Issued for Alleged Child Sex Abuse

Timothy Busfield’s upcoming guest-starring appearance on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has been pulled from the broadcast lineup.

The episode had been set to air on Thursday, Jan. 15, but will no longer run as scheduled. In its place, the show will air the episode planned for Thursday, Jan. 22.

The programming change follows news of an arrest warrant issued by the Albuquerque Police Department on Friday, Jan. 9. The warrant alleges that Busfield, 68, engaged in unlawful sexual conduct involving twin boys who were 11 years old at the time. One of the minors reportedly told investigators the alleged conduct began when he was 7.

Busfield—known for playing Danny Concannon on The West Wing and married to actor Melissa Gilbert—is facing two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.

According to the warrant, the boys were child actors who met Busfield on the set of the FOX series The Cleaning Lady, where he worked as a director. The show ran from January 2022 through June 2025.

A Warner Bros. Television representative said in a statement that the company prioritizes the well-being of cast and crew, “especially the safety of minors” on its productions, and that it takes allegations of misconduct seriously. The spokesperson added that the company has been cooperating with law enforcement.

The investigation into Busfield began on Nov. 1, 2024, after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) alerted police to potential sexual abuse concerns. The boys had been taken to the hospital after their father reportedly heard “multiple rumors” that Busfield had been “handsy” with women, according to the warrant.

The warrant says the boys’ mother later asked her sons—who were 11 at the time—whether anyone had ever touched them in a way that made them uncomfortable. The children allegedly responded by asking, “You mean like Uncle Tim?”

At that point, the warrant states that the boys did not disclose sexual contact, though they described Busfield tickling them on their stomachs and legs. Authorities later determined the case did not meet acceptance criteria at that time.

The mother later told authorities on Sept. 2, 2025, and again on Sept. 22, 2025, that one of her sons told his counselor Busfield had inappropriately touched him.

The warrant states that when one of the boys was 10, his therapist diagnosed him with moderate post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety following claims of “inappropriate touching.” The therapist reported the child experienced nightmares about the director touching him and waking up frightened, and alleged Busfield had touched and rubbed his penis “3 or 4 times,” adding that the child appeared ashamed, according to the warrant. The child also reportedly experienced bed-wetting and other behavioral issues.

The warrant further alleges the child said he did not come forward earlier because he “did not want to be mean” to Busfield.

Busfield told investigators the parents were upset because their sons had been replaced by a younger actor who auditioned, according to the warrant. He also reportedly told police he received a call from Warner Bros. informing him that a complaint was being investigated and that an outside firm was involved. The warrant states he acknowledged the boys at the center of the complaint.

When asked whether he ever picked up or tickled the children, Busfield allegedly said it was “highly likely,” describing his intention to keep a “playful environment.”

The warrant quotes Busfield as saying physical contact on set “is not allowed at all,” and that there is “no protocol,” adding that he was always around others and that any interaction would have happened in front of parents. He also allegedly said he did not remember picking up the boys, but remembered picking up another child who followed them, describing it as a way to help the child get ready to act.

Busfield also allegedly told investigators he and his wife had a relationship with the boys and their parents outside of work, including buying Christmas gifts and attending social gatherings together.

The officer wrote that a production assistant alleged one of the minors was often unsupervised on set and believed Busfield had opportunities to be alone with one of the boys while the child was lying in a bed on the TV set.

After reviewing results from Warner Bros.’ internal investigation, the warrant states it was documented that someone claimed to have witnessed an incident in December 2024 in which Busfield entered a hair and make-up trailer and kissed a minor boy on the face while the boy was getting a haircut.

In the warrant, the officer also included commentary about grooming dynamics, alleging that Busfield used access and trust to blur boundaries, and describing the alleged behavior as being masked as play.

The warrant also notes that Busfield previously faced sexual assault allegations dating back to 1994.

Representatives for Busfield and Gilbert did not immediately respond to requests for comment.