Deputy White House press secretary TJ Ducklo announced on Saturday that he was resigning because of the “disgusting, disrespectful and unacceptable” threats he made against a female reporter in January. Duklo’s resignation comes a day after he was placed on a one-week suspension about the incident.
Vanity Fair reported Friday that Ducklo had threatened to “destroy” Politico reporter Tara Palmeri if she went ahead with a story about his relationship with Axios reporter Alexi McCammond, who had previously covered the Biden campaign.
CBS News has not been able to independently verify the phone call, but the conversation three weeks ago led to a series of moves by the White House communications bureau, two people familiar with the situation told CBS News. It’s unclear why it took more than three weeks for the White House to discipline Ducklo.
In a statement on Twitter, Ducklo said he is “devastated that he has embarrassed and disappointed President Biden and others in the White House.”
“There are no words to express my regret, embarrassment, and dislike for my behavior,” Ducklo said in a statement. “I used language that no woman should ever hear from anyone, especially in a situation where she was just trying to do her job. It was revolting, disrespectful and unacceptable. ‘
‘I knew this was terrible. I know I can’t take it back. But I also know that I can learn from it and do it better, ”Ducklo continued. “This incident is not representative of who I am as a person, and I will be determined to regain the trust of everyone I have disappointed for my excruciating actions.”
This is the first public statement Ducklo has made on this.
In a statement, press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed the resignation on Saturday, saying she had a meeting with him on Saturday evening. White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain backed up the conversation, she added.
“We are committed to striving every day to live up to the standard set by the President in treating others with dignity and respect, with courtesy and value to others through our words and actions”, Psaki said.