Tufts Postpones Scaramucci Event Following Threat To Sue Student Newspaper
MEDFORD (CBS) -- Tufts University has postponed a scheduled event with Anthony Scaramucci after he threatened to sue the school's student newspaper.
The former White House communications director and Tufts graduate was set to speak at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Monday.
But earlier this month, a graduate student wrote a column criticizing Scaramucci's position on a Fletcher advisory board.
Camilo A. Caballero wrote in The Tufts Daily that Scaramucci was an "unethical opportunist" and "sold his soul in contradiction to his own purported beliefs for a seat in that White House."
I asked for an apology for defamatory statements. That is a teachable moment professor. The student is an adult, let his actions stand without any coddling. You can't defame people in America because you don't like their political views. https://t.co/q5fi8wszqn
— Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) November 27, 2017
On Monday, the paper printed a letter from Scaramucci's lawyer who says his client will seek legal action against the Daily and Caballero unless the paper retracts parts of the op-ed and the author apologizes.
"I stand by what The Daily has published so far," said Gil Jacobson, Editor in Chief of the student newspaper.
Scaramucci says he's not trying to limit free speech, just protecting himself against "false attacks."
"I double checked the facts and everything that Scaramucci claims is inaccurate is in fact correct," Jacobson said.
In one of his many tweets Monday, Scaramucci said, "nobody is going to call my ethics into question without a fight, an apology would suffice."
"There is no plan at this time for an apology in the Daily," Jacobson said.
Jacobson said the op-ed writer is now seeking legal advice from the American Civil Liberties Union.