The Trump administration is not backing down on its choice of conservative commentator Stephen Moore for an open seat on the Federal Reserve board, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told reporters Wednesday. Moore has been battered by revelations that he failed to pay child support following a divorce.
“I spoke to the president yesterday and he completely supports Steve,” Kudlow told reporters at an event hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. “People are being awfully hard on him. I don’t know. This town is a toxic town in some respects.”
He added: “He’s a smart guy and I think he would be a breath of fresh air in the Fed. So far, it is all systems go.”
Moore was put in contempt of court in 2013 for not complying with an order to pay thousands of dollars to his wife over his 2011 divorce. The judge ordered him to pay $300,000. In a statement yesterday, Moore said, “Our divorce was settled amicably many years ago and we remain on friendly terms.”
Kudlow is a longtime colleague of Moore’s, having often co-authored articles with him for conservative publications such as the National Review. In 1999, they co-founded the conservative nonprofit activist group the Club for Growth.
