Last week Press Secretary Jen Psaki was pressed into a corner when she suffered staunch questioning from reporters over accusations of sexual misconduct by the deputy press secretary. Despite Biden promising to fire any member of staff on the spot who had conducted such behavior, The deputy Secretary got off lightly.
As it appears TJ Ducklo, the deputy press secretary, took matters into his own hands to enforce the president’s promise. On the 14th of January, his resignation was announced to the public. Ducklo said in a statement:
“No words can express my regret, my embarrassment, and my disgust for my behavior,” Ducklo began in a statement. “I used language that no women should ever have to hear from anyone, especially in a situation where she was just trying to do her job. It was language that was abhorrent, disrespectful, and unacceptable.”
“I am devastated to have embarrassed and disappointed my White House colleagues and President Biden, and after a discussion with White House communications leadership tonight, I resigned my position and will not be returning from administrative leave,” Ducklo continued.
“I know this was terrible. I know I can’t take it back. But I also know I can learn from it and do better. This incident is not representative of who I am as a person, and I will be determined to earn back the trust of everyone I have let down because of my intolerable actions,” Ducklo concluded.
My statement on resigning from the White House. pic.twitter.com/3Jpiiv75vB
— TJ Ducklo (@TDucklo) February 14, 2021
As vanity fair pointed out, “multiple senior-level White House officials acknowledged at the time that Ducklo’s behavior was “inappropriate,” though he was not suspended until the story dropped on Feb. 12.”
Press Secretary said in an Ironic statement: “We are committed to striving every day to meet the standard set by the President in treating others with dignity and respect, with civility and with a value for others through our words and our actions.” But only with the press finds out at it would seem.
Joe Concha, a media reporter for The Hill, tweeted, “Psaki, along with senior aide Anita Dunn, was made aware of Ducklo’s sexist tirade on Jan. 21. Only after the Vanity Fair story on Feb 12 did Psaki/the administration act because they had to. Without the VF story, nothing happens here. This accountably statement is laughable.”
WH Press Secretary Jen Psaki announces the resignation of Deputy TJ Ducklo: “We are committed to striving every day to set the standard set by the president in treating others with dignity and respect.” Note: Psaki was aware of the Palmeri harassment for 3 weeks and did nothing. pic.twitter.com/0uAEEhzTh3
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) February 14, 2021
Psaki, along with senior aide Anita Dunn, was made aware of Ducklo’s sexist tirade on Jan. 21. Only after the Vanity Fair story on Feb 12 did Psaki/the administration act because they had to. Without the VF story, nothing happens here. This accountably statement is laughable.
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) February 14, 2021
