TJ Ducklo, the White House’s deputy press secretary, resigned on Saturday amid controversy over threats he made to a Politico journalist.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiWhite House says she does not want to require COVID-19 testing before domestic flights. Cuomo faces increased scrutiny over deaths in COVID-19 nursing homes. He said in a statement Saturday evening that the White House accepted Ducklo’s resignation after an argument with him. Ducklo had been suspended on Friday after Vanity Fair reported that she threatened a Politico reporter for a story she was chasing about their relationship earlier this week.
“We accepted TJ Ducklo’s resignation after a discussion with him this evening. This conversation took place with the support of the White House chief of staff,” Psaki said. “We are committed to striving every day to meet the standard set by the President in treating others with dignity and respect, with civility and with value for others through our words and our actions.”
Ducklo in a statement posted via his Twitter account said he regretted his behavior and described the language he used as “unpleasant, disrespectful and unacceptable.”
“I am devastated to have embarrassed and disappointed my White House colleagues and President Biden
Joe BidenGraham’s post-election call with Georgia’s secretary of state will be investigated: Night Defense report: Pentagon and Congress appoint panel members to rename Confederate bases | The military approves 20 more coronavirus vaccination teams Lawmakers applaud officer Eugene Goodman MORE, and after a discussion with the White House communications director tonight, I resigned and will not return from administrative leave, ”Ducklo said.
“I know it was terrible. I know I can’t get it back. But I also know that I can learn from it and do it better. This incident does not represent who I am as a person and I will be determined to regain the trust of everyone I have let down because of my intolerable actions, ”he continued.
The White House had defended its decision to suspend Ducklo for a week without pay on Friday, but the move sparked questions over Biden’s warning to employees on the first day that he would fire anyone who harmed a colleague.
“In our view, this was an important step in sending the message that we do not find this acceptable,” Psaki told White House reporters in a news session Friday afternoon.
According to Vanity Fair, Ducklo warned Politician journalist Tara Palmeri in an off-record conversation that she would “destroy” her if she published a story about her relationship with an Axios reporter, Alexi McCammond. Ducklo reportedly made misogynistic comments and accused Palmeri of being “jealous” of their relationship.
The relationship was revealed earlier this week in a favorable profile by People magazine. McCammond covered Biden’s campaign, but Axios said she was withdrawn from the rhythm in November after revealing her relationship with Ducklo.
Psaki said Friday that Ducklo apologized to Palmeri after the conversation. He also said Biden had not been consulted on the decision to suspend Ducklo, but the chief of staff Ron Klain
Ron KlainSanders says Biden sees progressives as “strong part of his coalition” Overnight healthcare: new COVID-19 cases fall below 100,000 for the first time in 2021 | CDC warns states to lift restrictions on threat of virus variants Health officials warn that eradication of COVID-19 is unlikely as House Democrats renew investigation into Trump administration’s pandemic response MORE had been consulted in the decision.