TJ Ducklo, an assistant White House press secretary, resigned on Saturday amid controversy over threats he made to a Politico reporter.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiWhite House says it is not looking to require COVID-19 tests before domestic flights Cuomo faces growing scrutiny about deaths in nursing homes COVID-19 Strong words, but weak response when a Biden advisor breaks the rules MORE said in a statement late on Saturday that the White House accepted Ducklo’s resignation after an argument with him. Ducklo was suspended on Friday after Vanity Fair reported that he threatened a Politico reporter because of a story she was investigating about his relationship earlier this week.
“We accepted TJ Ducklo’s resignation after an argument with him tonight. This conversation took place with the support of the White House Chief of Staff, ”said Psaki. “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, in a statement released through his Twitter account, said he regretted his behavior, calling the language he used “disgusting, 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 the Georgia Secretary of State will be investigated: Night Defense report: Pentagon and Congress appoint panel members to rename Confederate bases | Military approves 20 more coronavirus vaccination teams Lawmakers applaud officer Eugene Goodman MORE, and after a discussion with the White House communications leadership tonight, I resigned my position and will not be returning from administrative leave, ”said Ducklo.
“I know it was terrible. I know I can’t go back. But I also know that I can learn from it and do better. This incident does not represent who I am as a person and I will be determined to regain the confidence of everyone I have disappointed because of my intolerable actions, ”he continued.
The White House defended its decision to suspend Ducklo for a week without pay on Friday, but the move raised questions, given Biden’s warning to employees on his first day that he would fire anyone who disrespected a colleague.
“In our opinion, this was an important step in sending the message that we do not think this is acceptable,” Psaki told White House reporters at a meeting on Friday afternoon.
According to Vanity Fair, Ducklo warned Politician reporter Tara Palmeri in an unofficial conversation that he would “destroy” her if she published a story about her relationship with an Axios reporter, Alexi McCammond. Ducklo also reportedly made misogynistic comments and accused Palmeri of being “jealous” of their relationship.
The list was released earlier this week in a favorable profile of People magazine. McCammond covered Biden’s campaign, but Axios said she was removed from the circuit in November after revealing her relationship with Ducklo.
Psaki said on Friday that Ducklo apologized to Palmeri after the conversation. She also said that Biden had not been consulted in the decision to suspend Ducklo, but that the chief of staff Ron Klain
Ron KlainSanders says Biden sees progressives as ‘a strong part of his coalition’. Night healthcare: New COVID-19 cases nationwide drop below 100K for the first time in 2021 | CDC warns states against lifting restrictions amid threat of virus variants | Health officials warn that the eradication of COVID-19 is unlikely. House Democrats renew investigation into Trump’s pandemic response MORE were consulted in the decision.