Stephen Miller, the former Trump administration advisor, has drawn attention to himself by attacking the National Football League (NFL) right before the Super Bowl, according to reports. Miller, who is not a practicing lawyer, launched an attack through his America First Legal group, aimed at the NFL’s diversity initiative known as the ‘Rooney Rule.’
The America First Legal group has requested a civil rights probe into the legality of the Rooney Rule, a longstanding NFL regulation aimed at promoting diversity in coaching and management positions. The group claims that the rule limits opportunities for non-minority candidates, which they believe violates Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
This isn’t the first time Miller has attracted attention in this manner. In what observers perceive as a bid to attract donations, Miller filed an EEOC complaint against Macy’s in November, ensuring his name would trend alongside the brand during the Thanksgiving parade period. Miller has also been involved in the controversial issue of Gay Pop-Tarts.
Despite Miller’s claims, the Rooney Rule continues to endure its trials. The rule, which merely requires teams to interview minority candidates for job openings, has met some resistance. Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores recently filed a lawsuit, alleging that some NFL franchises exploit the Rooney Rule for superficial interviews while pre-selecting a non-minority candidate for a coaching position.
The NFL’s diversity is of intense interest, and while the Rooney Rule has exhibited a degree of success, it has further exposed the extent of employment discrimination within the country’s leading sport league. This seeming persistence of discrimination, despite the rule, appears to undermine Miller’s complaint, but his fundraising efforts continue, capitalizing on moments of high public interest such as the Super Bowl.
For more details regarding Stephen Miller’s attack on the NFL and the implications of the Rooney Rule, visit Above The Law.