WH spokesman threatened reporter for piece on relationship with journo: report

White Home deputy press secretary TJ Ducklo allegedly threatened to “destroy” Politico reporter Tara Palmeri for investigating his relationship with a journalist — earlier than telling her she was simply bitter that somebody didn’t need to have intercourse with her, in keeping with a brand new report.

The vulgar and threatening remarks from the senior White Home aide have been first reported Friday by Self-importance Truthful.

Politico editors reportedly had no less than two calls with Ducklo’s superiors — together with White Home communications director Kate Bedingfield and press secretary Jen Psaki — to debate his conduct.

In a single name, Ducklo’s superiors allegedly tried to show the tables and accused Palmeri of breaking an off-the-record settlement by relaying Ducklo’s misconduct to her editors.

Palmeri, a former New York Submit reporter and co-author of Politico’s fashionable “Playbook” publication, was working on the story of Ducklo’s then-secret romance with Axios reporter Alexi McCammond. A male journalist at Politico requested Ducklo for remark, whereas Palmeri reached out to McCammond, in keeping with the report.

As an alternative of replying to the male journalist, Ducklo, 32, known as Palmeri and mentioned, “I’ll destroy you” if she moved forward with the reporting, in keeping with Self-importance Truthful.

He then claimed Palmeri was “jealous” {that a} totally different man had “needed to f–okay” McCammond “and never you.”

Ducklo allegedly mentioned Palmeri was additionally “jealous” that he was courting McCammond.

Palmeri reportedly had no prior affiliation or communication with the Axios reporter.

Ducklo and Palmeri didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark from The Submit.

The relationship between Ducklo, who’s battling lung most cancers, and McCammond was first reported Monday evening in a gushing profile in Folks — the identical outlet that scored the primary interview in workplace with President Biden.

Politico “Playbook” reported Tuesday morning that “on Monday night, Playbook knowledgeable Biden’s comms workers that this merchandise can be printed at the moment. Hours later, a glowing profile of McCammond and Ducklo’s relationship was printed by Folks.”