White House Deputy Press Secretary TJ Ducklo was suspended for a week after he allegedly made derogatory remarks to a female reporter, leading to criticism that President Biden was breaking a promise to dismiss staff members who despised their colleagues thanks.
Vanity Fair reported on Friday that Ducklo made ‘derogatory and misogynistic’ remarks about Politico’s Tara Palmeri when asked about his romantic relationship with Axios reporter Alexios McCammond.
Sources told the magazine that during a call on January 20, Ducklo threatened out of the record to “destroy” Palmeri, claiming that she only wanted to ask about McCammond because of jealousy that an unidentified man in the past wanted to “f” – – “McCammond and not Palmeri.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF AXIOS POLITICAL REPORTER WITH TOPED PERSONNEL HAPPENS ETHICAL RELATIONS
Vanity Fair reported that Ducklo Palmeri apologized for losing his temper, but also that White House officials criticized Palmeri for breaking a deal with Ducklo. The story about McCammond and Ducklo was eventually fed to People for a puff piece on the couple.
The White House announced on Friday that Ducklo has been suspended for a week without pay and that he will no longer work with Politico when he returns.
President Biden said last month that he would immediately fire any of his nominees, “no if, and or,” or just, if he ever heard that they treated a colleague with respect, leading to criticism that he was the pledge with one of its own staff.
“We have a new definition of a pat on the wrist,” tweeted Jon Ralston, a Nevada journalist, saying Ducklo’s reported language was “repulsive and sexist.”
Politico apparently referred to the splash in its January 21 issue of Playbook, which Palmeri helps write. From Biden’s remarks on treating colleagues with respect, it reads: ‘Serious question we think this morning: does this standard apply to how middle-class press staff treat reporters?’
McCammond has been re-appointed to cover Vice President Kamala Harris, despite her relationship with Ducklo, which has raised eyebrows.
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McCammond, who regularly appears on left-wing MSNBC, went on to cover the Biden White House for Axios and comment on it, even after she announced her relationship in November. After Axios initially said she was taken off the Biden Rhythm, she eventually said she had taken a “back seat,” suggesting she would still play a role despite her conflict of interest.