Scaramucci rails against rivals in the West Wing

WASHINGTON — When Anthony Scaramucci, the new White House communications director, went on television Thursday morning to compare himself and his adversary, Reince Priebus, the chief of staff, to Cain and Abel, it seemed to encapsulate the fratricidal nature of an administration riven by biblical rivalries. Cain, after all, killed Abel as they vied for God’s favor.

As it turned out, that was the cleaned-up version. In a vulgaritylaced telephone call with a New Yorker writer reported on the magazine’s website on Thursday evening, Scaramucci railed against Priebus and Stephen K. Bannon, the president’s chief strategist, both of whom opposed his hiring last week. He even vowed to get the chief of staff fired. “Reince Priebus — if you want to leak something — he’ll be asked to resign very shortly,” Scaramucci said.

Whether Scaramucci will turn out to be Cain or Abel, it was clear that his appointment has added