Anthony Scaramucci threatens to sue a school newspaper for libel

Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci is threatening a libel lawsuit against the Tufts University school newspaper, The Tufts Daily, as well as a graduate student, Camilo Caballero, who penned two op-eds the paper printed earlier this month.

The articles describe Scaramucci, a Tufts alumnus, as "irresponsible, inconsistent, an unethical opportunist" who exudes "the highest degree of disreputability" and "cares about gaining attention and nothing more." The op-eds were occasioned by Scaramucci's seat on an advisory board at the university's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, a role Caballero argued Scaramucci should not retain.

"You may have a difference of opinion from me politically which I respect," Scaramucci wrote to Caballero, "but you can't make spurious claims about my reputation and integrity." His lawyers sent a letter to The Tufts Daily demanding a retraction and apology, and Scaramucci is busily defending his position on Twitter.

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In response, Tufts postponed an event featuring Scaramucci that was scheduled for Monday, and the student paper posted the attorneys' letter without comment. Legal experts say it is unlikely Scaramucci would be able to successfully sue because the articles were opinion pieces rather than news reports.