Melissa Gilbert ‘Confident’ Husband Timothy Busfield Will Be Exonerated, But Is Ready for ‘All Scenarios’

Melissa Gilbert is hoping for the best but preparing for the worst when it comes to husband Timothy Busfield’s criminal case.

In February, Busfield, 68, was indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child tied to when he worked as a director on the set of Fox’s The Cleaning Lady from 2022 to 2024, according to ABC 7. The West Wing actor has denied all charges brought against him.

Meanwhile, the Little House on the Prairie alum, 61, has stood by the Emmy Award winner — and in a Monday, April 6 Good Morning America interview with George Stephanapolous, she declared, “I am 100% confident he will be exonerated.”

“But I will tell you that there is a practical side to this, and we do have to be prepared for all scenarios,” she continued.

After Stephanopoulos asked Gilbert, “What would justice look like in this case?” she answered, “Exoneration. An apology. Freedom from this cloud.”

Additionally, the Dancing with the Stars alum acknowledged that even with an exoneration, things will never be the same for her or Busfield.

“This has been the most traumatizing experience of our lives. Our life as we knew it is done. We are grieving what we had — all of our plans, all of our dreams, all of our ideas, all of our projects,” she admitted. “For Tim, it’s done. He’s canceled. Even if he’s exonerated, he will always be that guy. [He’s] the last person in the world who would hurt a child.”

Gilbert doubled down in the interview, insisting Busfield is innocent.

“And believe me, if I thought for a second that Tim Busfield hurt a child, he’d have a lot more to worry about than prison,” she stated.

“No one knows him better than I do,” Gilbert added, before noting, “He is nothing if not completely honest with me.”