White House Aide Backpedals after Appearing to Call for Colleague's Prosecution

W460

Feuding within Donald Trump's inner circle appeared to burst out on Twitter late Wednesday, when one White House aide tagged another in a tweet calling on the FBI to investigate the leak of his financial information.

After details of his financial holdings were made public, White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci appeared to point the finger of blame at White House chief of staff Reince Priebus.

"In light of the leak of my financial disclosure info which is a felony. I will be contacting @FBI and the @TheJusticeDept #swamp @Reince45," Scaramucci tweeted.

Scaramucci was appointed White House communications director just this week, but he has quickly become a public face of the administration and powerful surrogate for the president.

Earlier, Politico published details of Scaramucci's finances -- which are submitted to the government ethics office by all senior White House staff and released to anyone who requests them.

He later deleted the tweet and denied calling for his colleague's prosecution.

Asked if he was accusing Priebus of leaking the financial disclosure, Scaramucci told AFP: "I am not."

Scaramucci also tweeted that it was a "public notice to leakers" that all senior administration officials "are helping to end illegal leaks. @Reince45".

Speaking early Thursday on CNN Scaramucci said he was focused on quelling "nefarious, unnecessary, backstabbing, palace intrigue-like leaks."

He did not pinpoint why he had included Priebus's name in his tweet but did say "if Reince wants to explain he's not a leaker, let him do that."

Trump's White House has been beset by infighting, as different ideological factions leak damaging information about rivals in their war for dominance.

Since coming to office Scaramucci has boasted of having a plan to deal with the leaks and staked his political future on rooting them out.

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