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False Anonymous Tip Prompts Overnight Separation of Buttigieg From His Twins
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was separated from his four-year-old twins overnight after an anonymous report falsely alleged he posed a danger to the children, an episode he disclosed in a Substack post on June 26, 2026. Michigan State Police and child protective services responded to the claim at his Traverse City, Michigan, home, determining it was unfounded and likely politically motivated, according to statements provided to The Associated Press. The former cabinet secretary compared the hoax to swatting in the child protective services context, describing it as one of the darkest hours of his life.
A Michigan State Police officer and a child protective services worker informed Buttigieg that forensic interviews with the children had been scheduled for the following day. The officer explained that Buttigieg could not be alone with his twins until the interviews occurred, resulting in the temporary separation while his husband Chasten remained with them. The anonymous caller claimed to have met Buttigieg years earlier in Alabama and accused him of unspeakable violent crimes, an allegation the authorities found to be without merit, The Washington Post reported.
Buttigieg and his husband adopted the fraternal twins in 2021. The incident occurred days after he posted family photographs on social media to mark Father’s Day, according to his account on the Substack platform. It unfolded during Pride Month, a period when the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor has previously encountered targeting tied to his identity as a married gay man, The New York Times noted in its coverage.
In the post titled “A Terrible Thing Happened to My Family,” Buttigieg wrote, “Someone decided to hurt our family this week. I’m furious, and I want to share what happened.” He expressed rage and sadness over the event while voicing worry about any unseen effects it might have on his young children. The former transportation secretary framed the false report as the child protective services equivalent of swatting, a hoax that has become more frequent in recent years, as he noted in the essay.
Michigan State Police confirmed in a statement that the report was false and would not be referred to prosecutors. “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 agency said, according to ABC News. The determination followed the forensic interviews, after which authorities reunited the family without pursuing any further action.
Buttigieg, viewed as a potential contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, has not identified the caller or speculated publicly on a specific motive beyond the apparent political nature. Coverage by NPR and The Guardian echoed the police assessment that the allegation lacked any evidentiary basis. The episode drew attention to the personal toll such hoaxes can exact on public figures and their families, multiple outlets reported.
The police response at the Buttigieg home followed standard procedures for child protective services tips, even as the claim quickly proved spurious. Buttigieg’s disclosure on his personal Substack platform generated widespread coverage across major news organizations within hours of its publication. No charges have been filed against the anonymous reporter, consistent with the authorities’ finding that the call represented a cruel waste of public resources.
