Perspectives: Biden Deputy Press Secretary Resigns After Harassing Reporter

Former White House Deputy Press Secretary TJ Ducklo resigned after reportedly threatening a Politico reporter. Vanity Fair reported Friday that Ducklo lashed out at Politico's Tara Palmeri after Palmeri asked about the potential conflict of interest regarding Ducklo's romantic relationship with Axios political reporter Alexi McCammond, who covered the Biden campaign. Vanity Fair said Ducklo told Palmeri "I will destroy you" if she published the story, and purportedly made other misogynistic comments. Axios told Politico that McCammond disclosed her relationship and was taken off the Biden beat, though she continued to cover Vice President Kamala Harris. After the Vanity Fair story broke Friday, the White House suspended Ducklo for one week, which prompted criticism from those who brought up Biden's words to his staff after he was sworn in: “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.” On Saturday, Ducklo released a statement saying he resigned from the White House. The White House received criticism from across the political spectrum for its handling of Ducklo. Two Politico reporters told CNN that the White House's solution of restricting their access to on the highest ranking officials in the communications department "feels like [they are] punishing us more than him." Some voices from the right made the claim that sexual harassment accusations are "inconsistently condemned or dismissed based on the political affiliation of the reportedly guilty party", and that if Ducklo was a Republican, Democrats would have demanded a harsher punishment. Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly named Palmeri as "Tamara."