Pete Buttigieg’s Family Faces False CPS Report During Pride Month

Buttigieg Family Faces False CPS Accusation During Pride Month

In an unsettling episode for former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his family, an anonymous report to Child Protective Services (CPS) led to a brief yet distressing investigation. This occurred shortly after the family shared their Father’s Day celebrations online, coinciding with Pride Month.

Detailing the ordeal in a Substack post, Buttigieg explained how a police officer accompanied by a CPS worker arrived at their Traverse City, Michigan home. They informed him of allegations suggesting his children were at risk, a claim later proved to be untrue.

As a result, the Buttigieg children underwent forensic interviews, conducted without family members present. During this time, the children were placed with their grandparents, as Buttigieg was not allowed to be alone with them until the situation was resolved.

“The twenty-four hours until they returned are among the darkest hours of my life,” Buttigieg expressed in his post.

The Michigan State Police confirmed to NPR that they had acted on an anonymous report, which upon investigation, was found to be false. The authorities have not disclosed any potential motives behind the false report.

Known for his political ascent within the Democratic Party and a possible presidential candidate for 2028, Buttigieg first gained prominence as the first openly gay politician to run a competitive campaign for a major party nomination in 2020.

Reflecting on the timing of the incident during Pride Month, Buttigieg remarked, “It’s not lost on me that this happened soon after we shared photos of our family on social media for Father’s Day. Or that this occurred during a month meant to make families like ours feel welcome and safe.”

The incident sparked bipartisan support, including from Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wisc., who responded sympathetically to Buttigieg’s post on X, stating, “this has happened to our family and I agree, this is horrible.” He further added, “I hope they find the folks that did this and send them to prison.”

NPR has yet to verify Van Orden’s claims independently.

Buttigieg, who generally describes himself as “reasonable” and composed, shared the emotional impact the incident had on him. “I cannot describe the mix of rage and sadness that I feel at the idea that someone brought our children into this. They are four years old. Four,” he said. “They do not know or care what a Democrat or a Republican is. They don’t know how politics works. They don’t know about hate.”