Threatening Journalists Regarding His Love Story, White House Deputy Secretary Of Press Resigns

White House Illustration (Tabrez Syed/Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Deputy Secretary of the White House, TJ Ducklo, decided to resign from his position after threatening a journalist who asked about his relationship with another journalist. He uploaded this resignation statement to his Twitter account.

"I know this is terrible. I know I can't take it back, but I also know I can learn from it and do better," Ducklo wrote.

Ducklo was previously suspended for one week without payment last Friday after Vanity Fair reported on Ducklo's threats against journalist Tara Palmeri of Politico who asked about Ducklo's romantic relationship with journalist Axios Alexi McCammond.

President Joe Biden, as quoted from CNN, is said to know this and support Ducklo's resignation. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also agreed to this resignation. He revealed that Ducklo had also apologized to Tara Palmeri, who he threatened.

"We accept TJ Ducklo's resignation after discussing with him. These talks took place with the support of the White House Chief of Staff," said Jen Psaki as quoted by CNN from the White House.

The Vanity Fair story says Ducklo had threatened Palmeri for her work, vowing he would 'destroy' it if Palmeri published it. Ducklo is also said to make misogynistic comments to Palmeri and referred to Palmeri's own personal life, accusing her at one point of being 'jealous' about his relationship with McCammond.

My statement on resigning from the White House. pic.twitter.com/3Jpiiv75vB

— TJ Ducklo (@TDucklo) February 14, 2021