Who is Tara Palmeri? Meet Politico reporter threatened by WH ex-aide TJ Ducklo over story on Alexi McCammond fling
White House Deputy Press Secretary TJ Ducklo resigned after it was reported that he threatened a Politico journalist. On Friday, February 12, it was reported that Ducklo had a verbal confrontation with Politico's Tara Palmeri, who was working on a story on his relationship with a reporter for Axios, Alexi McCammond. A male Politico reporter had contacted Ducklo, while Palmeri had reached out to McCammond. However, Ducklo called Palmeri and allegedly said “I will destroy you” if the story was published. He also reportedly “made derogatory and misogynistic comments".
In a statement, Ducklo said, “No words can express my regret, my embarrassment and my disgust for my behavior. I used language that no woman 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.”
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Who is Alexi McCammond? Meet the Axios reporter rumored to be dating Joe Biden's aide TJ Ducklo
My statement on resigning from the White House. pic.twitter.com/3Jpiiv75vB
— TJ Ducklo (@TDucklo) February 14, 2021
It’s the first departure from the new administration, less than a month into President Joe Biden’s tenure. During a virtual swearing-in for staff on Inauguration Day, Biden told them, “If you ever work with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I will fire you on the spot.... No ifs, ands or buts," Biden added.
Who is Tara Palmeri?
Born on September 1, 1987, in New York, Palmeri is currently working as a co-author of the Politico Playbook newsletter. Previously, she has worked for conservative publications Washington Examiner and New York Post. She is also the host and chief investigative reporter of two Sony Music podcasts: 'Broken: Seeking Justice' and 'Power: The Maxwells'.
Her career in journalism started in 2008 as a broadcast intern for Voice of America while she was completing her bachelor's degree in communications at American University in Washington, DC. She graduated in December 2008 and was hired shortly after by CNN to assist live production.
She's a former White House correspondent for ABC News, where she covered important political stories for flagship programs such as 'Good Morning America' and 'World News Tonight'. Previously, Palmeri was working as White House Correspondent for Politico and a CNN political analyst and broke many significant stories about the Donald Trump administration.
Before joining Politico’s DC political team, she reported for POLITICO's European edition where she covered the Paris and Brussels terror attacks, the Greek financial crisis and the British referendum. At the time, she was a CNBC contributor where she provided commentary on-air. Before moving to Europe, Palmeri reported on New York City politics for the New York Post.
She started at the newspaper in 2010 as a reporter for Page Six. During President Barack Obama's first term, she co-authored the Washington Examiner's “Yeas & Nays” column on people, power and politics in the US capital. In addition to ABC, CNN and CNBC, she has made television appearances on MSNBC, BBC, Fox News Channel and CBS. Originally from New Jersey, she now lives in Brooklyn.
ABC News president James Goldston described Palmeri's journalism journey saying: "Tara is a tenacious reporter with a keen instinct for political scoops, and a thoughtful analyst of both politics and policy. Early in her career, Tara reported for the New York Post, covering the John Edwards trial, the 2012 political conventions, and N.J. Governor Chris Christie’s political ambitions, among other high profile assignments. She then moved to Brussels as a reporter for Politico, where she regularly broke news on the Greek Financial Crisis, Brexit, and the hunt for terrorists in Europe. Tara returned to the U.S. at the start of this year to join Politico’s White House team and instantly made her mark on the beat, repeatedly breaking stories about the Trump administration. Tara joins us at a time when news from Washington continues to dominate the news cycle and impact every aspect of our audience’s lives. Our Washington team has been doing an outstanding job, and I am especially grateful for the leadership and journalistic excellence of Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl, Senior White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega, and Senior Congressional Correspondent Mary Bruce."
She was the first journalist to report that the last living Nazi in the US was deported to Germany; that then-president Trump had approved the sale of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine; that an executive order was drafted to remove the US from NAFTA; and that Trump ordered a plan to remove all US diplomats from Turkey for the return of Pastor Brunson.