Chasten Buttigieg Says It’s Old News To Cover Pete’s Lengthy Paternity Leave After DOT Concealed It For A Year

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s husband, Chasten, came to the couple’s defense last week over criticism of the department chief’s prolonged absence during a critical time for the federal agency.

The holiday season was threatened by a supply-chain problem on the West Coast in the fall 2021 as Congress put together a trillion dollar infrastructure package. Secretary Buttigieg went on eight-weeks of parental leave. While 9 out of 10 dads are expected to take leave, the overwhelming majority (95%) of them do not.70 percent) take 10 days or less.

Internal records made public through a Freedom of Information Act request and first reported Last week, the Washington Examiner revealed that Buttigieg excused his executive duties in order to care for his newborn twins. The secretary refused to appear in public and declined a request to meet with a Senate Republican top-ranking. according Fox News.

“Unfortunately, the Secretary is currently on leave due to the birth of his twins, and that may lead to a delay in possibly scheduling in the future,” Unnamed staffers at the Transportation Department wrote to decline a meeting with Senator Chuck Grassley. Hawkeye State legislator wanted to talk about a $1 billion bridge project in the Midwest.

Buttigieg also turned down requests to appear in Illinois or Indiana.

Chasten admonished critics of his husband’s absence last week with the same condescending snark that’s almost become expected of modern-day leftists.

“It’s been 17 months,” Chasten wrote Follow us on Twitter Friday “You need new material. Go yell at an M&M.”

His comment was followed by his remark news Mars Candy Company would sell M&M packages featuring all female characters during this month to make a feminist statement.

Chasten’s husband at the helm of the Transportation Department, however, stonewalled requests for the documents on his reported absence.

Michael Chamberlain, the director of Protect the Public’s Trust, which filed the request for records under the Freedom of Information Act, told The Federalist the documents were only released after the group filed a lawsuit. It requested the records in December but was forced to sue in June.

The Department of Transportation still stonewalling records requests on Secretary Buttigieg’s absence that The Federalist filed the same month Chamberlain’s group submitted theirs. The request was acknowledged by the agency on December 3, 2021. However, the agency has not yet been compliant with the public transparency law despite numerous follow-ups via phone and email.

Buttigieg’s Transportation Department was awarded more than $100 billion For public transit, the president signed the infrastructure package in 2021.

Tristan Justice is The Federalist’s western correspondent. He has also contributed to The Washington Examiner, and The Daily Signal. His work has been featured in Real Clear Politics as well as Fox News. Tristan graduated from George Washington University, where he studied journalism and political science. Follow Tristan @JusticeTristan on Twitter or contact him