"Cancelled. His Career Is Over." But Actor Timothy Busfield Is Getting Out of Jail

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Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present 23 min 2 speakers 5 chapters transcribed
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

Amy Robach 0:00
This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human. Hey there, folks. It is Tuesday, January 20th, and a breaking story developing just as we are getting in front of these microphones. Actor Timothy Busfield gets to go home. His court hearing just wrapped up, and the judge is going to let him go home. The moment sent his wife, Melissa Gilbert, to tears. With that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Again, Robes has only been, I mean, literally less than 10 minutes ago he wrapped this hearing. But it was something to see. Melissa Gilbert, this iconic TV actress sitting in a courtroom just a couple of rows behind her husband accused of heinous crimes. But yes, he is going to get to go home.
T.J. Holmes 0:57
I actually was brought to tears watching Melissa Gilbert break down when she heard the judge say that Timothy Busfield was going to get to go home. He didn't even put travel restrictions on him and let him leave on his own recognizance. So didn't even set some high dollar amount for him to be able to leave. It was the best case scenario for Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert. The judge's decision was what they were hoping for, most likely what they were praying for. And so to see all of that emotion come out after a two-plus-hour hearing, which was honestly riveting the entire time, it was remarkable what we learned and what we heard in court today.
Amy Robach 1:42
Yes, folks, to explain here, you know the case by now, Timothy Busfield being accused by a couple of boys who worked on a show that he directed of inappropriate contact with a minor or the charges they're going after. He did turn himself in in Albuquerque, New Mexico. That's where the movie, excuse me, the show was being shot. That's why they are there. He has been in jail, Rob, since last week.

Why is Timothy Busfield being released from jail?

Amy Robach 2:05
It was kind of a surprise to a lot of people. The prosecution called this man an absolute danger, and there can't be a child anywhere in his proximity that could be safe.
T.J. Holmes 2:14
The prosecutor was arguing today in court that there were no conditions that the court could set for his release that would guarantee the safety of the community. I mean, they went in hard, and they said there was no GPS could— say that he wasn't with or around children. And interestingly, they used the support that Timothy Busfield brought to court with him and used it against him.
Amy Robach 2:42
We both just rolled our eyes kind of in a way. We'll explain and we'll get into what the defense said, what the prosecution said. But first, we'll just tell you, yes, what the judge says. So, yes, the headline is Timothy Busfield is getting to go home.

What emotional moments occurred during Busfield's court hearing?

Amy Robach 2:54
He said he combined all of these factors and did not agree with the prosecution that there are no conditions that can be set that can keep the community safe. It makes sense. There's no evidence that shows there's any pattern of abusing his power or a pattern of grooming children. Those are two major things the judge hit on.
T.J. Holmes 3:14
That's right, because yes, prior allegations were brought up, but as it was pointed out, these were all post-pubescent women. So there's no pattern of him abusing children or any allegations of him abusing minors.
Amy Robach 3:29
So how was he supposed to consider that? It makes sense what the judge was saying, but you combine that with zero criminal history. The other allegations you just mentioned, they're not vetted by the criminal justice system. So it's difficult to give weight to all that. So ultimately, the judge said he can go out under his own recognizance to set the scene here. It was set for 2 o'clock local time, 4 o'clock on the East Coast this afternoon. And they told us straight up, hey, it's going to be... Each side gets an hour. Each side had a chance to bring witnesses. But even before we started, he came into court right on time at 4 o'clock Eastern. And Rosie was still wearing that same orange outfit. But he looked tired, disheveled.
Amy Robach 4:07
He looked exhausted.
T.J. Holmes 4:08
Disheveled is the word that I came to mind when I saw him walk in. He was a far cry from the actor we're used to seeing. And yeah, he looked exhausted. He looked beaten down. He looked emotionally and physically just spent.

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