The former U.S. transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten, were recently targeted by a malicious false report to a child welfare agency. As Buttigieg disclosed in a personal Substack post, an anonymous call led police and child-welfare workers to visit the family’s home in Michigan.
Because of the call, Buttigieg was not allowed to spend an entire night alone with his four-year-old twins and had to sleep outside their own house. The following day, the children were subjected to an almost hour-long forensic interview by authorities, with neither parent present.
An anonymous caller had previously told a 911 dispatcher that they’d heard from a woman Buttigieg had met years earlier at a conference in Alabama, and that Buttigieg had allegedly confessed “unspeakable violent crimes.” Buttigieg clarified that he has never visited that Alabama location.
The Michigan State Police and child welfare officials, after a quick review, deemed the allegations completely unfounded. Investigators stressed that they believe the incident was a politically motivated deception. Buttigieg said he would explore all criminal and civil options to hold those responsible accountable.
“The ugliest thing that’s ever happened to me”
Responding to the ordeal, Buttigieg said: “Over the years I’ve been subjected to insults, shouting, hostility, threats, and smear campaigns. I’ve faced political attacks in office, death threats in public life, and rocket-fire during wartime,” the Afghanistan-war veteran continued. “But this is the ugliest thing that has happened to me since I started serving the public.”
His concern, he emphasized, rests with his children: “They should be worrying about which ice cream they’ll choose this afternoon, not wondering why they’re being taken to a grown man who’s asking them odd questions or why their dad suddenly can’t read them a bedtime story. For God’s sake, they’re still kids.” He also urged people not to weaponize children in political battles. “Whatever you think about a politician, keep the kids out of it.”
First openly gay U.S. cabinet member
Buttigieg was confirmed in early 2021 as the first openly gay man to hold a U.S. cabinet position in a Senate vote (TheColu.mn reported). Today, he is regarded as a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 (TheColu.mn reported).
After taking office, Buttigieg announced that he and his husband had become parents to twins (TheColu.mn reported). Conservatives, including former Republican Vice President Mike Pence, repeatedly mocked the couple’s parenthood (TheColu.mn reported). (dk)
