New York Post

Mooch scoots closer to a White House job

- By JOSH KOSMAN

After two days of intense White House lobbying, hedgie Anthony Scaramucci is closer to getting his top Trump administra­tion job — but not home free yet, The Post has learned.

The high-level talks included a sitdown with President Trump’s chief strategist, Steve Bannon, two sources close to the situation said.

Trump has indicated that he wants Scaramucci, an early and vocal sup- porter, for the job, a source said.

But The Mooch, as he is affectiona­tely known on Wall Street, still needs to persuade chief of staff Reince Priebus to give his OK.

Priebus has reservatio­ns about bringing the Long Island native into the White House, sources said.

The Mooch and Priebus have not yet discussed the job, sources noted.

The Mooch seemed a shoo-in to become assistant to the president for public engagement and intergover­n- mental affairs until it was learned that he sold his SkyBridge Capital hedge fund to investors led by China-based HNA Group, raising concerns.

HNA has ties to the Chinese Communist Party, it has been reported.

Separately, Priebus is favoring bigtime Republican National Committee donor Duke Buchan to become ambassador to Spain, two sources said.

Buchan managed money for a Sam and Charles Wyly-backed hedge fund, Maverick Capital, from 1997 to 2001 and sat on the board of one of their offshore companies.

The Securities and Exchange Commission sued the Wylys in 2010, accusing them of fraud during a period when Buchan worked for them.

Ajury found the brothers liable. The SEC never charged Buchan.

Last September, Samuel Wyly settled with the SEC for $198 million. Charles Wyly died in 2011.

Neither the White House nor Scaramucci returned calls.

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