The White House on Friday suspended a press aide who reportedly threatened to “destroy” a reporter working on a story about his relationship with another journalist, ABC News has reported.
Deputy press secretary TJ Ducklo was suspended for one week, without pay, after Vanity Fair reported he told Politico’s Tara Palmeri that he would “destroy” her for writing about his relationship with Axios reporter Alexi McCammond.
According to Vanity Fair, Ducklo had “made derogatory and misogynistic comments” — including accusing her of being “jealous” of his relationship. “I will destroy you,” he told Palmeri, according to the magazine, which cited anonymous sources.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced Ducklo’s suspension on Friday, after the Vanity Fair piece was published, and called Ducklo’s behavior “completely unacceptable.”
“No journalist at Politico — or any other publication or network — should ever be subjected to such unfounded personal attacks while doing their job,” they said. “Politico reporters and editors are committed to forging a professional and transparent relationship with public office holders and their staff and expect the same in return,” ABC News further reported.
With reports by ABC News
