Economist Stephen Moore, President Trump’s pick for the Federal Reserve governor, has responded to reports he was held in contempt of court for failing to pay over $300,000 in child support and alimony payments to his wife by describing her as “terrific.”
“Allison Moore and I were married for 19 years and have three wonderful sons whom we have co-parented. Our divorce was settled amicably many years ago and we remain on friendly terms to this day,” Moore said in a statement sent to the Washington Examiner. “She is a terrific mother and I hold her in the highest regard.”
In court documents from 2013, the judge found Moore in “Contempt of Court for willfully not complying with the Court’s Final Order of Divorce” to pay thousands of dollars in lump sum and monthly payments to his wife over his 2011 divorce.
The judge went on to order Moore to pay over $300,000 of divorce payments and attorney fees to his ex-wife.
Moore’s ex-wife also responded with a statement. “Steve Moore and I reconciled through our divorce many years ago,” she stated. “We remain on cordial terms.” When she filed for divorce in 2010 , she accused him if “emotional and psychological abuse.”
Moore, a staunch Trump advocate and co-author of the book Trumponomics, was picked last month to sit on the Federal Reserve board.
Trump has been criticized for his pick of Moore as a nominee to the Federal Reserve by some economists who say Moore lacks the credibility to be effective on the board.
A judge temporarily sealed Moore’s divorce records on Monday.
[Also read: Trump Fed pick Stephen Moore called for rate hikes as the economy was collapsing in 2008]
