Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg described a recent child services swatting call that led to him being temporarily separated from his two children as "one of the most awful moments of my life." In an interview with "Good Morning America," Buttigieg stated that an anonymous caller made a false allegation to Child Protective Services, prompting officials to visit his home.
Buttigieg, who lives with his husband Chasten and their 4-year-old twins in Traverse City, Michigan, said that police and Child Protective Services workers arrived at his home and informed him he could not be alone with his children. He later learned that the allegation involved a location he had never visited, where the anonymous caller claimed to have heard about Buttigieg committing "unspeakable crimes."
Michigan State Police confirmed that the report was false and dangerous, stating that such calls divert critical resources from legitimate emergencies. "False reports are dangerous and divert law enforcement officers and Child Protective Services workers from responding to legitimate emergencies and protecting vulnerable children and families," the department said in a statement.
The incident has prompted Buttigieg to call for a de-escalation in political rhetoric and tactics. "We just can't go on like this," he said, emphasizing that families should be shielded from political attacks. "This is so far beyond Democrat and Republican stuff. And we've got to be able to say as a country that we don't have to agree on politics, we don't have to agree on policy, we have to agree that we want some fairness and some integrity and some decency in public life in this country."
Buttigieg, a prominent figure in the Democratic Party and a potential 2028 presidential hopeful, expressed hope that the individual responsible will be found and prosecuted. He also noted the bipartisan support he has received since speaking out about the incident, highlighting a desire across the political spectrum to protect families from such tactics. He plans to continue his public service work.
This incident occurs amid a broader trend of increased threats and harassment targeting public figures. Reports have indicated a rise in swatting calls against members of Congress, and past events have included assassination attempts and targeted political violence against lawmakers and their families.