White House Spokesman Suspended After Threatening Female Journalist
Following the publication of this article, T.J. Ducklo and the White House announced his resignation from the Biden administration. This story remains below as originally published:
A deputy press secretary for the Biden administration reportedly verbally harassed a Politico reporter, and the staffer is now facing suspension.
TJ Ducklo’s relationship with Axios political reporter Alexi McCammond was made public by People magazine, but Politico’s Tara Palmeri picked the story up, making Ducklo furious, Vanity Fair reported.
“I will destroy you,” Ducklo said, according to Vanity Fair.
In addition to the threat to ruin Palmeri’s reputation for publishing the story regarding his personal life, he reportedly made several other inappropriate and threatening comments to her, even going as far as to call her “jealous” of the relationship.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki released a statement about the incident, which resulted in Ducklo’s being suspended for one week without pay. The action was only taken after the story went public.
“TJ Ducklo has apologized to the reporter, with whom he had a heated conversation about his personal life. He is the first to acknowledge this is not the standard of behavior set out by the President,” Psaki tweeted. “In addition to his initial apology, he has sent the reporter a personal note expressing his profound regret.”
“With the approval of the White House Chief of Staff, he has been placed on a one-week suspension without pay. In addition, when he returns, he will no longer be assigned to work with any reporters at Politico.”
TJ Ducklo has apologized to the reporter, with whom he had a heated conversation about his personal life. He is the first to acknowledge this is not the standard of behavior set out by the President.
— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) February 12, 2021
With the approval of the White House Chief of Staff, he has been placed on a one-week suspension without pay. In addition, when he returns, he will no longer be assigned to work with any reporters at Politico.
— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) February 12, 2021
At Friday’s media briefing, only five of the 66 questions from reporters were about Ducklo, according to conservative pundit Curtis Houck.
I just did a very, very rough count of questions at the White House press briefing and there were 66 total, but only five were about TJ Ducklo, his sexist comments to Politico’s Tara Palmeri, and his one-week suspension without pay.
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) February 12, 2021
“I am not saying that’s acceptable, but I just want to be clear that it was not an issue related to the White House or a White House policy or anything along those lines,” Psaki answered when CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked.
CORRECTED quote: “I am not saying that is acceptable, but I just want to be clear that it was not an issue related to the White House or a White House policy or anything along those lines.”
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) February 12, 2021
The week-long suspension goes directly against what President Joe Biden said while swearing in federal employees on day one of his administration.
“I’m not joking when I say this: If you’re ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot,” Biden said.
Pres. Joe Biden delivers stern directive to his incoming staff: “I’m not joking when I say this: if you’re ever working with me and I hear you treat another with disrespect… I promise you I will fire you on the spot.” https://t.co/YfvKfnhCh1 #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/oGRjfMKGmQ
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 20, 2021
Based on Ducklo’s behavior, it would make sense for him to be fired by Biden’s (and most workplaces’) standards. Americans will have to wait and see if the White House decides to increase the consequences.
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