Getty Anthony Scaramucci
While on CNN Thursday morning, new White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci quoted the late Penn State coach Joe Paterno while complaining about leaks to the press. Paterno was fired by Penn State in 2011 for his role in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
Scaramucci really quoted freaking Joe Paterno about honor. This is really the stupidest of times.
t.co/lAhlm2kgq7
Scaramucci called into CNN after his financial disclosure report was published hours earlier. Although the form was public information, Scaramucci still felt it was leaked.
“Why don’t you honor the job?” Scaramucci told New Day anchor Chris Cuomo. “Remember Joe Paterno? What would he say? Act like you’ve been there before. Act with honor and dignity and respect and hold the confidence of the presidency and his office.”
The call into CNN followed the leak of Scaramucci’s financial disclosure form. Scaramucci tweeted – then deleted – a call for the FBI to investigate the leak, calling it a “felony.” He tagged White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. Then, the New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza tweeted that Scaramucci really wanted the FBI to “investigate Reince for leaking.” Scaramucci then denied the report, writing, “Wrong! Tweet was public notice to leakers that all Sr Adm officials are helping to end illegal leaks.”
In his CNN interview, Scaramucci compared his relationship with Pirebus to Cain and Abel’s in the Bible. “I don’t know if this is repairable or not,” Scaramucci said of their relationship. “That will be up to the president. But he’s the chief of staff. He’s responsible for understanding and uncovering and helping me [uncover the leakers] in the White House, which is why I put that tweet out last night.”
Also during the interview, Scaramucci said that he and the president have a “very, very good idea of who the leakers are.”
Scaramucci called into CNN after Lizza spoke with New Day. Lizza was interrupted by the White House Communications Director and began the interview by apologizing to the journalist. Scaramucci said he talked to President Donald Trump for 15 minutes before he called into CNN. Below is the full interview.
Paterno was fired by Penn State in 2011, as it was alleged that he was aware of Sandusky sexually abusing young boys. Sandusky was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison in 2012.
The quote “When you go into the end zone, act like you’ve been there before” has actually been credited to the legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi.
At the end of the interview, Scaramucci confirmed that he spoke with Attorney General Jeff Sessions and spoke with his “buddies in the FBI” about investigating leakers.
Scaramucci’s reference to Paterno caught Twitter’s attention, leading to the name of the coach trending.
But if officials who keep their mouth shut are like Joe Paterno that means DT is Sandusky which means the working/middle class ppl are… oh
So @Scaramucci is quoting Joe Paterno… I’m beginning to get his comfort level with defending Trump. #HumanTrafficking
Scaramucci said about leakers that people should act like Joe Paterno and have honor and respect. JoePa was good about not leaking things.
https://twitter.com/VicBergerIV/status/890534708802715649
Anthony Scaramucci just incorrectly quoted Joe Paterno on CNN. 2017, man. 2017.
