Anthony Scaramucci threatens to call FBI over leak of his £64m fortune

Fortune: Trump PR Anthony Scaramucci
REUTERS
David Gardner27 July 2017

Donald Trump’s new communications director has threatened to call in the FBI over a West Wing leak detailing his £64 million fortune.

Financier Anthony Scaramucci — nicknamed “The Mooch” — included the Twitter handle of White House chief of staff Reince Priebus in his online outburst — which some analysts interpreted as signalling who was to blame, indicating splits and unrest in the Trump administration. The angry tweet was prompted by a report on the Politico website detailing how Mr Scaramucci earned nearly £7.6 million in the first six months of the year from his investment firm SkyBridge Capital.

His financial disclosure form, filed with the Office of Government Ethics, showed his assets were worth £64 million.

“In light of the leak of my financial disclosure info which is a felony I will be contacting @FBI and the @TheJusticeDept,” he wrote, adding #swamp, a reference to “corrupt” Washington politics, and including the Twitter handle of Mr Priebus, who reportedly opposed his appointment. He later deleted the tweet and posted one insisting he only mentioned Mr Priebus as they were united in trying to stamp out leakers: “Wrong! Tweet was public notice to leakers that all Sr Adm officials are helping to end illegal leaks. @Reince45.”

Mr Scaramucci, 53, is a Republican donor and was on the president’s transition team. Born to an Italian-American family on Long Island, he is known for his sharp suits. Veteran Republican insider Mr Priebus chaired the party’s national committee before becoming chief of staff. According to reports, he has been increasingly sidelined.

The New York Times said the incident “added to the sense of foreboding ... in the White House.” Analysts pointed out financial disclosures are public documents. One was filed by Sean Spicer, who quit as press secretary over Mr Scaramucci’s appointment last week.

Hundreds gathered at a military recruiting station in Times Square to protest against Mr Trump’s ban, announced on Twitter, on transgender people serving in the armed forces. More attended a protest in San Francisco’s Harvey Milk Plaza, named after the gay rights activist. Kristin Beck, a transgender former Navy SEAL, told the president: “Let’s meet face to face and you tell me I’m not worthy.”

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