President Trump is reportedly near naming former Godfather’s Pizza president and conservative activist Herman Cain to an open seat on the Federal Reserve board.
Cain served as director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City from 1992 to 1996.
Cain is close to be being announced once a background check is complete, Axios reported Thursday, citing “two senior administration officials familiar with the decision.” He was previously reported to be under consideration by Bloomberg in January.
Cain would be Trump’s second unconventional choice in recent weeks for a spot on the seven-person Board of Governors. Trump has also said that he intends to name Stephen Moore, a conservative commentator and an adviser to his campaign, to the board.
Cain, a prominent African-American businessman, first gained political attention in 1994 when he debated President Clinton over healthcare at a town meeting in Kansas City, Mo. Cain argued that Clinton’s then-proposed healthcare plan would force businesses to lay off workers. The incident made him a favorite of conservative groups.
Cain mounted an unsuccessful Senate bid in Georgia in 2004 and ran for president in 2012, both times as a Republican.
The latter bid ran aground following accusations of sexual harassment by Cain during his tenure as president of the National Restaurant Association. Cain denied the charges but ended his campaign shortly afterwards.
A White House representative could not be reached for comment.
