Deputy White House press secretary T. J. Ducklo resigned on Saturday following revelations that he lashed out at a reporter pursuing a story on his relationship with another journalist, the Washington Post reported on Saturday.

Duckloโ€™s relationship with Axios reporter Alexi McCammond was revealed in a profile of the couple in People magazine last week. However, when Politico reporter Tara Palmeri attempted to work on a story about the relationship in January, Ducklo called Palmeri and threatened to ruin her reputation if the story was published.

โ€œI will destroy you,โ€ Ducklo told Palmeri, in a conversation revealed by Vanity Fair. Ducklo also accused Palmeri of being jealousโ€ that another, unidentified man โ€œwanted to f***โ€ McCammond โ€œand not you.โ€

White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced on Friday, after Duckloโ€™s altercation with Palmeri was revealed, that Ducklo would be suspended for one week without pay. Following an outcry from other journalists, White House communications officials decided that Duckloโ€™s resignation would be a preferable course of action, two senior officials told the Post.

Ducklo โ€œknew that his conduct was not consistent with the values that President Biden expects from his staff,โ€ communications director Kate Bedingfield said. โ€œAnd so he offered his resignation.โ€

Ducklo posted an apology to his Twitter account on Friday, writing that โ€œno words can express my regret, my embarrassment, and my disgust for my behavior.โ€

The Biden administration has promised a more friendly relationship with the press, following former President Trumpโ€™s frequently adversarial approach to media outlets and reporters.