Listen to distraught Timothy Busfield admit his life is OVER in bombshell recording as he fights child sex abuse allegations: 'I don't remember ever kissing those boys'

By MARJORIE HERNANDEZ, US WEST COAST NEWS EDITOR and WILL POTTER, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 21:52, 18 July 2026 | Updated: 21:57, 18 July 2026 Bombshell audio has revealed the moment a distraught Timothy Busfield complained that his 'life is ruined' as he gave testimony to a grand jury over alleged child sex offenses.  The Emmy Award-winning actor and director, 69, told a grand jury in Albuquerque, New Mexico in February that allegations he inappropriately touched two child actors, which he denies, meant his career is 'done.' In audio exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail, Busfield insists of the allegations against him: 'I didn't do this. I have never, ever been inappropriate in any way, physically, sexually in any way with a child, a prepubescent little boy. I am not attracted to that. 'I have never been attracted to that. I've only been and always been attracted to adult women, or post-pubescent women, throughout my entire life.  'I've never ever been inappropriate like that. Certainly, I would never allow it at work... it's absolutely taboo and would never ever do it. And never have done it, ever.'  Busfield is charged with four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under 13, with prosecutors alleging he molested young twin brothers on the set of his TV series The Cleaning Lady, which he produced and worked as a director on from 2022–2025.  In over two hours of testimony to the grand jury, Busfield repeatedly denied the allegations and claimed that he was being falsely accused by the boys' mother because he cut their roles on the show.  'She wanted revenge and she got it,' he said. 'I'm done... Thank God I'm in retirement age, but I'm done.'  In the coming days, the Daily Mail will publish more audio and files obtained from Busfield's grand jury hearing.  Busfield has denied the allegations against him and claims he is the victim of a smear campaign from the boys' parents because he cut them from the show. He is pictured in the Bernalillo County Courthouse in New Mexico on January 20 Busfield has been married to Melissa Gilbert, the former child star of Little House on the Prairie, since 2013 Busfield has maintained that he had a close relationship with the child actors and their parents, and they would often call him 'Uncle Tim' on the set of the hit TV show.  When asked by the grand jury about if he would ever have been seen embracing or touching the children, Busfield said it only would have been in a friendly way at the instruction of their parents. 'The dad would say, "Go hug Uncle Tim," so I would touch them then. I never initiated that,' he said.  'Did I have my arms around those boys? Absolutely. In pictures, absolutely… In pictures, when the parents ask you to smile and give them a tickle under the ribs like you would your own kid? Yes. Did I ever touch them inappropriately. Never ever once, with any prepubescent boy.'   Busfield said he was never alone with the child actors on set, and there were often dozens of witnesses watching over scenes where he was with them.  In a moment where the testimony appeared to get to the actor, Busfield sighed as he apologized: 'I'm nervous... This is all very real and the stakes are very high.' He grew emotional as he maintained that he had no memory of any incidents that he has been accused of, saying: 'I don't remember ever kissing either one of those boys.' 'My life is done because of these false allegations for money and for revenge,' he said through tears. Referring to the children's parents, he added: 'These two criminals have ruined me and my wife and her business. I am not going to break that. I have done everything I was told to do through this entire process.'  According to documents obtained by the Daily Mail, the boys' father spent three years in prison for wire fraud conspiracy, while their mother has a number of civil judgements against her related to gambling debts and writing bad checks. Busfield has been married to Melissa Gilbert, the former child star of Little House on the Prairie, since 2013. The actress has been standing by her husband throughout the case, and as the Daily Mail previously reported, has told her inner circle that she does not believe his accusers and is confident that her husband is innocent. Busfield turned himself in to authorities in New Mexico on January 13 amid the allegations, and he is charged with four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under 13. His trial is scheduled to begin on May 10, 2027  Busfield is set to go on trial on May 10, 2027, and he was released without bail in January following his arrest. He was formally indicted in February.  In his grand jury testimony, he claimed he could produce evidence that would vindicate him, including alleged audio of the boys telling investigators that they were not inappropriately touched by the actor. Busfield added at one point that he had taken a lie detector test, but was told by prosecutors that they are not admissible in court in most states.   He said he was stunned when he was first accused of the crime, and insisted that such an abuse of power in a TV studio would be 'unprecedented.' 'It's career suicide of me going in and committing a sexual assault on anybody. I've never done that to anybody,' he continued. 'The fact that I would sexually assault a prepubescent little boy with my boss and the boss of the studio there, and then get hired back to run the show, would be completely unprecedented. 'I can't get a performance out of somebody if I just sexually assaulted them. I can't get an honest performance. Their temperament and ability to be good at work allows me to know them.'  Busfield seen with his wife, Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert  Busfield is charged with four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under age 13, which he has denied. Pictured in 2020 in NYC  As he repeated claims that the child actors' parents were falsely accusing him out of 'revenge', Busfield said he believes they were furious because he cut their roles from his TV show. 'The problem with the kids is they outgrew the role. With COVID and renegotiations of contracts. They were supposed to be 6-7 years old,' he explained.  'They were making money off their kids and they didn't understand the business. It was a problem I had with them throughout. The way they coached the kids to say their lines and pick up props.' Busfield said the boys took the news well when he told them they were cut from the show and said they 'just wanted to go to school', but said their parents were insistent on them remaining in Hollywood. 'They did not want to be there. My wife was a kid actor. I know kid actors and parents almost 50 years of doing this. I can tell when parents are in it for the money,' he said. 'I can tell if the kids are a natural talent… When you have a kid who isn't doing what they love, it's noticeable.'  An investigation began in November 2024 when a University of New Mexico Hospital staff member reported concerns that the boys were being groomed by Busfield after their mother brought them in for an exam when she suspected they had been sexually abused. Hospital staff found no evidence of abuse.  The Daily Mail contacted Busfield's attorney, who declined to comment.