Buttigieg Addresses False CPS Report Targeting His Family

Pete Buttigieg has come forward about a troubling incident involving his family, which he describes as a “cruel and politically motivated hoax” tied to Child Protective Services (CPS).

The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, shared via a Substack article that someone lodged a false allegation against him, aiming to disrupt his family life. The situation was alarming enough to prompt a visit from authorities.

“I’m quite accustomed to facing various falsehoods and attacks. But this? This is different,” he expressed, reflecting on the visit from law enforcement.

Buttigieg compared this experience to “swatting,” where fake police reports lead to armed responses. “Imagine the same concept, but with CPS instead of a SWAT team,” he said, recalling how CPS and police arrived at his home, requesting to speak to his children.

Only his four-year-old twins were questioned regarding allegations of abuse against them, which left him understandably confused and distressed. “I attempted to stay composed, but it was quite troubling. I thought I’d seen it all, but this one threw me off completely,” he noted.

After separating the children overnight, an investigation revealed no grounds for the allegations. Buttigieg stated that the entire episode was triggered by an anonymous phone call to CPS made by an individual who claimed to have spoken to a woman from a past conference.

The caller stated that this woman accused Buttigieg of a violent crime and insisted that his children were in danger.

While law enforcement believed the incident had political motivations and chose not to pursue charges, Buttigieg reflected on the emotional turmoil it caused for him and his family. “Once the officers and CPS workers left, Chasten and I shared a moment that felt like the strongest embrace we’ve had since our son was placed on life support shortly after we adopted him,” he recounted.

He emphasized that the time and resources spent on this false report were squandered on “cruel and politically motivated disinformation” that ultimately harms families.

In an official response, Michigan state police confirmed they received this “anonymous report,” which they subsequently determined to be false. They also noted that such false reporting can distract law enforcement from responding to real emergencies, thus impeding efforts to protect vulnerable children and families.

Buttigieg called this incident “the ugliest thing” to occur during his political journey.