White House reviewing past comments by potential Fed nominee Stephen Moore

The White House said Monday it is reviewing past comments by potential Federal Reserve nominee Stephen Moore, after he admitted he was “embarrassed” by some of his remarks about women.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters the review is underway concerning Mr. Moore, whom President Trump has not yet formally nominated for the Fed.

Mr. Moore, a conservative commentator who writes a column for The Washington Times, apologized Sunday for columns he wrote in the National Review more than 15 years ago criticizing coed sports and saying that only attractive women should be allowed to be referees or sports reporters.

“They were humor columns, but some of them weren’t funny, so I am apologetic,” Mr. Moore said on ABC’s “This Week With George Stephanopoulos.”

Another potential Fed nominee, businessman Herman Cain, withdrew his name from consideration last week after at least four Republican senators said they would likely vote against him.

In another interview, Mr. Moore said his past statements shouldn’t disqualify him from the Fed, and argued that he is undergoing “character assassination” similar to what Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh endured during his confirmation process last year.

“I’m not saying I’m an angel, but I’m just saying that these kinds of things don’t have a lot to do with whether I’m qualified to be on the Federal Reserve Board and setting interest rates,” Mr. Moore told “The Cats Roundtable with John Catsimatidis.”