Who Is Loretta Lynch? Ex-US AG Defending The NFL Against Brian Flores’ Allegations Of Discrimination

The National Football League hired a law firm that includes former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch. She will help defend the league against a class action lawsuit being brought by former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores alleging racial discrimination in the NFL’s hiring practices.

Flores names the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Dolphins in the suit, but the NFL and the teams named have all denied his allegations.

Lynch was the first Black woman to serve as attorney general close to the end of the administration of former President Barack Obama. She was confirmed to serve in the role by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 26, 2015. Then-Vice President Joe Biden swore her in on April 27, 2015.

While at the White House, Lynch worked on the case against Dylan Roof, the perpetrator of the Charleston church shooting. Lynch also investigated the Chicago Police Department after the shooting of Laquan McDonald.

She also worked closely with investigators after the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. After Eric Garner’s death, Lynch brought in outside investigators after the FBI in New York City was unwilling to bring charges against the cops involved.

Lynch was considered a potential replacement for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, but asked to be removed from consideration.

The former AG was accused of interfering with the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails, which led to an investigation into her actions by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Department of Justice inspector general, who also investigated, ultimately found missteps but nothing illegal.

Before her work at the White House, Lynch held positions in law enforcement for the New York State government. In the '90s, she worked at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York as an assistant U.S. attorney, a deputy chief with the General Crimes Section, the chief for the Long Island Division and chief assistant to the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District.

Before she went on to become AG she was the senior attorney for the Eastern District of New York.