Pete Buttigieg Says False Child‑Welfare Report Separated Him from Twins for 24 Hours

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg disclosed that an anonymous caller filed a false report with Michigan Child Protective Services, alleging he had confessed to “unspeakable violent crimes” and that his four‑year‑old twins were at risk. Police and CPS investigated, determined the allegation baseless, and placed the twins with grandparents while arranging a forensic interview. Buttigieg and his husband Chasten were barred from being alone with the children for 24 hours, a period Buttigieg described as “the darkest hours of my life” and said he was “beyond furious.” He framed the incident as a new form of swatting using child‑welfare agencies. Officials across party lines, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rep. Hillary Scholten and commentator Meghan McCain, condemned the episode as “disgusting” and “dirty, cruel politics.” The case highlights rising political harassment and concerns over misuse of child‑protection systems.