T.J. Ducklo, a deputy White House press secretary, reportedly threatened a Politico reporter who was investigating his relationship with an Axios reporter who had covered then-candidate Joe Biden's campaign, seemingly creating a glaring conflict of interest.
Vanity Fair reported in a phone call with Tara Palmeri that Ducklo was beyond unprofessional when he told her to drop the story:
"The confrontation began on Inauguration Day, January 20, after Palmeri, a coauthor of Politico’s Playbook, contacted McCammond for comment while one of her male colleagues left a message for Ducklo, according to sources...But instead of calling the male reporter who initially contacted him, Ducklo tried to intimidate Palmeri by phone in an effort to kill the story. 'I will destroy you,' Ducklo told her, according to sources, adding that he would ruin her reputation if she published it.
"During the off-the-record call, Ducklo made derogatory and misogynistic comments, accusing Palmeri of only reporting on his relationship—which, due to the ethics questions that factor into the relationship between a journalist and White House official, falls under the purview of her reporting beat—because she was 'jealous' that an unidentified man in the past had 'wanted to fuck' McCammond 'and not you.' Ducklo also accused Palmeri of being 'jealous' of his relationship with McCammond. (Palmeri had no prior relationship or communication with McCammond before calling her to report on the Playbook item, which was a story that she was assigned and had not independently pursued.)"
Unity and Healing: Biden WH Deputy Press Secretary Threatened to 'Destroy' a Reporter
Vanity Fair reported in a phone call with Tara Palmeri that Ducklo was beyond unprofessional when he told her to drop the story:
"The confrontation began on Inauguration Day, January 20, after Palmeri, a coauthor of Politico’s Playbook, contacted McCammond for comment while one of her male colleagues left a message for Ducklo, according to sources...But instead of calling the male reporter who initially contacted him, Ducklo tried to intimidate Palmeri by phone in an effort to kill the story. 'I will destroy you,' Ducklo told her, according to sources, adding that he would ruin her reputation if she published it.
"During the off-the-record call, Ducklo made derogatory and misogynistic comments, accusing Palmeri of only reporting on his relationship—which, due to the ethics questions that factor into the relationship between a journalist and White House official, falls under the purview of her reporting beat—because she was 'jealous' that an unidentified man in the past had 'wanted to fuck' McCammond 'and not you.' Ducklo also accused Palmeri of being 'jealous' of his relationship with McCammond. (Palmeri had no prior relationship or communication with McCammond before calling her to report on the Playbook item, which was a story that she was assigned and had not independently pursued.)"
Unity and Healing: Biden WH Deputy Press Secretary Threatened to 'Destroy' a Reporter