White House deputy press secretary Ducklo resigned after threatening the reporter.

TJ Ducklo resigned as deputy press secretary for the White House after a brief controversy over the appropriate punishment after he threatened a reporter. Ducklo was initially suspended for a week without pay on Friday after Vanity Fair released a story revealing that he had threatened the politician’s Tara Palmeri. The action generated reaction, as some said the punishment was not strong enough, especially considering that President Joe Biden had promised that anyone on his team who showed disrespect would be fired. (Dan Kois of Slate wrote an article on Friday with the title “Just Fire TJ Ducklo!”

Press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed on Saturday night that Ducklo had resigned. “We accepted TJ Ducklo’s resignation after an argument with him tonight,” said Psaki in a statement. “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 actions.” Ducklo also issued a statement. “No words can express my grief, my embarrassment and my disgust for my behavior. I used language that no woman should hear from anyone, especially in a situation where she was just trying to do her job. It was an abominable, disrespectful and unacceptable language, ”he said. Ducklo went on to say that he is determined to “win back the trust of everyone I disappointed because of my intolerable actions”.

The resignation came a day after Vanity Fair reported that Ducklo made “derogatory and misogynistic comments” regarding Palmeri in an unofficial call, while she was telling a story about his relationship with Axios reporter Alexi McCammond. Among other things, Ducklo is said to have said Palmeri was “jealous” of their relationship and added that he was jealous because an unidentified man “wanted to fuck” McCammond “and not you”. He also warned that it would ruin her reputation if she continued with the story. “I will destroy you,” he said. People posted a nice profile of their relationship on Monday.

When she announced the suspension, Psaki said Ducklo’s behavior was “completely unacceptable”, but she made a point of emphasizing that he reacted to a story about his personal life. “I am not saying this is acceptable, but I just want to make it clear that it is not an issue related to the White House or White House policy, or anything in that regard,” she said. Some, however, said the suspension did not meet the standard that Biden had established at the beginning of his government. “I’m not kidding when I say that,” Biden told employees on his first day on the job. “If you are working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, speak to someone in a disdainful manner, I promise I will fire you on the spot – on the spot. I don’t want any excuses. Everyone – everyone – has the right to be treated with decency and dignity. “