White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci will fire a White House press aide and more dismissals are expected in his bid to stop leaks coming from the Trump administration.
Scaramucci announced his intent on Tuesday to fire assistant press secretary Michael Short, Politico reports. Short said Tuesday he had not yet been terminated, however, and he denied ever leaking any information, calling those allegations false.
The Wall Street Journal then reported Tuesday afternoon that Short had resigned, effective immediately.
Michael Short, one of two senior assistants in the press shop, has resigned, effective immediately. Says it was a 'privilege" to serve.
— Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) July 25, 2017
Short was a staffer on President Donald Trump's campaign but quit his job there well before the election, just to return as Trump took office.
Scaramucci has made figuring out who was leaking information a priority since being hired last week. Scaramucci said Sunday that he would fire any leakers on his watch.
"I'm committed to taking the comms shop down to Sarah [Huckabee Sanders] and me, if I can't get the leaks to stop," Scaramucci said.
Scaramucci also offered amnesty during a meeting with staff members as he warned that Short's firing may not be the last.
"I offered amnesty in the meeting, but that decision is above my rank," Scaramucci said.
Short is known to be close to White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus.
UPDATE: 1:11 P.M.: This article has been updated with the news that Short resigned.