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Pete Buttigieg recalls ‘darkest hours’ after separation from children over hoax CPS report
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- Pete Buttigieg revealed that an anonymous and baseless accusation led Child Protective Services (CPS) to investigate his family, resulting in a 24-hour separation from his four-year-old twins.
- The accusation involved a false claim that Buttigieg admitted to violent crimes at a conference he never attended, which Buttigieg described as a "cruel, politically motivated hoax."
- Michigan state police confirmed they received the anonymous report, investigated, and determined it was false, emphasizing that false reports divert resources from legitimate emergencies.
- Buttigieg likened the incident to "swatting," a form of harassment involving false emergency reports, and highlighted the emotional toll and political context, noting it occurred shortly after sharing family photos on Father's Day.
- Buttigieg expressed intent to pursue civil or criminal charges to hold perpetrators accountable and protect families from similar harassment in the future.
