Maryland mayor arrested on 56 child pornography charges calls Pete Buttigieg his ‘buddy’

Maryland mayor Patrick Wojahn, who has been busted on 56 child pornography charges, called embattled Biden administration Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigeig his ‘buddy’ and ‘mentor.’

Wojahn, 47, was taken into custody after having his home searched on February 28 and stepped down from his role before being arrested this week.

He attributed his career success to Buttigeig, who recently came under fire for his handling of a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which dumped chemicals into the town.

Wojahn and Buttigeig have been spotted in several high-profile situations including at the White House during an event during the Obama administration.

Maryland mayor Patrick Wojahn (right),who has been busted on 56 child pornography charges, has called embattled Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigeig (left) his ‘buddy’ and ‘mentor’

Wojahn, 47, was taken into custody after having his home searched on February 28 stepping down from his role before being arrested this week

‘I actually met Mayor Pete Buttigieg shortly after I was elected mayor in 2015,’ Wojahn, who is gay, told the Washington Blade, back in 2019.

Wojahn went on to explain how Buttigeig, who is also gay, had been tasked with being his ‘buddy’ during a gathering of mayors in Washington DC.

‘I went to the US Conference of Mayors’ Winter Meeting in DC in January [2015] and he was assigned to be my buddy,’ Wojahn said.

The two are said to have struck up a close relationship following the DC visit and continued to talk on the phone – both later attending an event at the White House.

‘I now serve in a leadership role as vice chair of city livability and bicycling in part due to his mentorship,’ Wojahn said of Buttigieg, adding that they would discuss the challenges of being openly gay mayors.

‘We talked about balancing competing interests,’ Wojahn told the Washington Blade at the time.

In 2019, Wojahn shared a photo of himself on Twitter with Buttigeig, the pair with their arms around one another, with the caption: ‘Just two mayors, grabbing a beer together. #MayorPete’

Several other photos emerged over the years of the pair, including some from his mentor’s 2020 presidential campaign, in which he was seen wearing a ‘Pete 2020’ button with the former South Bend Mayor.

Visitor logs and his social media accounts show that Wojahn visited the White House about six times since President Biden’s inauguration and since Buttigeig was appointed to lead the Department of Transportation, according to Fox News.

Wojahn was elected mayor of College Park, a DC suburb, in 2015, but abruptly resigned after Prince George’s County police arrested him on 40 counts of possession of child pornography and 16 counts of distributing child pornography.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified local police of a social media account that was spreading explicit images. 

Wojahn was this week taken into police custody after a sting operation linked him to the social media account, even though police say he used a VPN to try and hide his identity. 

In a resignation letter on Thursday, Wojahn said he was stepping down to ‘deal with’ his ‘mental health’. 

The city, in its own statement, thanked him ‘for his service’, and said nothing of the allegations in its initial announcement.

‘The City of College Park thanks Mayor Wojahn for his many years of dedicated service,’ it said. 

‘We are shocked and disturbed by the news; what has come to light in this investigation is a total surprise to us,’ they said in a later statement.

‘The City knows that this news is distressing and difficult for our community, and we encourage our residents to seek any help they feel necessary to work through this trying time.’ 

Wojahn was linked to the crimes because he’d used his College Park email address as the recovery email for the account, according to police. 

Wojahn and Buttigeig are said to have struck up a close relationship following the DC visit and continued to talk on the phone – both later attending an event at the White House

Kojahn with his husband, Dave Kolesar, at the White House in December to celebrate the Respect for Marriage Act

Wojahn has served as mayor of College Park, a city of 35,000, since 2015. 

He lives with his husband, Dave Kolesar. They recently visited the White House to celebrate the Respect for Marriage Act in December. 

Kolesar has not yet commented. In his resignation letter, Wojahn said: ‘It has been a profound honor and privilege to serve the City of College Park. 

‘However, effective immediately, I must resign my position.

‘On February 28, 2023, a search warrant was executed on my residence as part of an ongoing police investigation. I have cooperated fully, and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement.

‘While this investigation does not involve any official business of any kind, it is in the best interests of our community that I step aside and not serve as a distraction.

‘Many of you have already reached out with well wishes and thoughts and I am eternally grateful. I am stepping away to deal with my own mental health.

Buttigieg has faced calls to resign and even threats of impeachment in recent weeks over his handling of the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment

Nearby houses were quickly evacuated after the derailment as the flammable, highly toxic chemicals were ignited

‘I ask that you keep me and my family in your prayers.’ 

In a press release, the Prince George’s County Police Department said: ‘The image and videos had been uploaded to the social media account in January of 2023.

‘Through various investigative techniques, PGPD investigators discovered the social media account belonged to Wojahn.’ 

A DOT spokesperson said the allegations were ‘extremely disturbing’ and confirmed Buttigeig and Wojahn knew each other.

‘The allegations against former College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn are extremely disturbing, and we’re thankful local law enforcement has intervened,’ the spokesperson told Fox News.

‘The Secretary did not know the former mayor well, but did meet him a number of times through participation in US Conference of Mayors programming, conferences and political events,’ they added.

In a resignation letter, he said: ‘I am stepping away to deal with my own mental health

Wojahn with Nancy Pelosi in a social media image

Police carried out a search warrant at Wojahn’s home on February 28 

Buttigieg has faced calls to resign and even threats of impeachment in recent weeks over his handling of the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment in which residents were forced to evacuate.

A total of 38 cars derailed during the February 3 crash, 11 of which were carrying hazardous materials – residents later reported feeling unwell, as well as fish and wildlife dying.

Engineers onboard the doomed East Ohio toxic train on Thursday said that they’d desperately tried to bring it to a halt – after receiving alerts that a wheel bearing was 254 degrees above normal temperature.

The crew attempted to slow the train as it barreled towards East Palestine, Ohio, but their efforts failed resulting in the fiery crash.

Pictures and footage emerging from the incident shows plumes of black smoke billowing from the crash site.

Buttigeig’s use of taxpayer-subsidized private planes on more than a dozen occasions is also now under investigation by his department’s inspector general.