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Attorneys working for Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder have informed the House Committee on Oversight and Reform that the billionaire will not be attending or testifying at next week’s hearing on hostile workplace and sexual harassment claims against himself and his NFL club.
The letter, provided to DailyMail.com by a Snyder spokesperson, says he will be out of the country on June 22, and goes on to raise concerns about the scope of the questioning and the Committee’s refusal to reveal more information beforehand.
A source close to Snyder told DailyMail.com that Snyder cannot attend the hearing ‘given the Committee’s disregard for due process.’ In their letter to Congress, Snyder’s attorneys say he ‘remains willing to cooperate with the Committee.’
Despite Snyder’s decision, the Committee still plans to hold the hearing on Capitol Hill at 10am on June 22.
In addition to Snyder, the Committee also invited NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to come and testify about the league’s investigation into the allegations against the Commanders. On Wednesday, a league spokesperson confirmed to DailyMail.com that Goodell has accepted the invitation and will attend the hearing virtually.
Committee chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (Democrat, New York) and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democrat, Illinois), who chairs the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, have accused the league of being evasive on the matter.
Attorneys working for Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder have informed the House Committee on Oversight and Reform that the billionaire will not be attending next week’s hearing on hostile workplace and sexual harassment claims against his NFL club
Committee members also invited NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (pictured) to come and testify about the league’s investigation into the allegations against the Commanders, but it remains unclear if he will be in attendance. A NFL spokesman did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment
Sexual harassment allegations against team employees ranged from inappropriate comments to the creation of a lewd behind-the-scenes video from a cheerleader calendar shoot in 2008, according to a 2020 Washington Post report.
At a February hearing before the committee, former team employee Tiffani Johnston added to those allegations, saying Snyder once grabbed her thigh at the team dinner. Johnston said Snyder later tried to force her into a limousine until his lawyer intervened, allegedly telling the owner ‘this is a bad idea.’
Snyder has denied these claims, although an emergency motion filed in a Virginia federal court in 2020 revealed the existence of a 2009 settlement for ‘misconduct.’ The details of the deal have remain sealed, thanks to Snyder’s legal efforts.
Congress began looking into the team’s workplace culture in October following a NFL investigation into the sexual harassment claims that resulted in a $10 million fine for Snyder, but no written report or public accountability.
The committee wants to use the June 22 hearing to examine the NFL’s handling of the supposedly independent investigation, which was conducted by Washington DC attorney Beth Wilkinson’s firm.
Snyder’s attorney, Karen Seymour of New York-based Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, cites a ‘longstanding Commanders-related business conflict’ in her letter to Congress, but places more emphasis on the committee’s refusal to allay her client’s concerns about the hearing
Snyder’s attorney, Karen Seymour of New York-based Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, cites a ‘longstanding Commanders-related business conflict’ in her letter to Congress, but places more emphasis on the committee’s refusal to allay her client’s concerns about the hearing.
Seymour claims her requests for ‘additional information’ about the hearings were rejected and shared misgivings about the scope of the questions her client would face.
‘Specifically, although the Committee indicated that the hearing would be ‘focused on’ the historical workplace culture issues, I was informed that the Committee would not provide any assurance that the questions directed to Mr. Snyder would be limited to those issues, given the wide latitude granted to members to ask questions beyond the topics identified by the Committee,’ Seymour wrote.
The letter also boasts about the team’s ‘diverse and inclusive executive team’ that includes the NFL’s first African-American team president, Jason Wright, and has one of just five minority head coaches in the league, Ron Rivera.
The letter also boasts about the team’s ‘diverse and inclusive executive team’ that includes the NFL’s first African-American team president, Jason Wright, and has one of just five minority head coaches in the league, Ron Rivera
The letter also boasts about the team’s ‘diverse and inclusive executive team’ that includes the NFL’s first African-American team president, Jason Wright (left), and has one of just five minority head coaches in the league, Ron Rivera (right)
Ex-Commanders employee Tiffani Johnston told Congress’ Oversight Committee that Snyder once groped her thigh during a team dinner and pushed her toward his limousine with his hand on her lower back. Snyder has denied the allegation
Goodell has faced questions from both committee members and others over his refusal to release the findings of that investigation, while the league has cited privacy concerns and the lack of a written report for that decision.
Wilkinson would have recommended that Snyder be forced by the league to sell the team, according to Virginia sports radio station, 106.7 The Fan, and Pro Football Talk. However, rather than voicing that opinion, Wilkinson’s firm instead took millions from the league and agreed to remain silent about the findings of the investigation.
The committee previously demanded evidence purportedly showing that both Snyder and the league meddled with the supposedly independent probe.
Wilkinson, a prominent attorney, was originally hired by the Washington Football Team (WFT) in 2020 to investigate the hostile workplace allegations against the club. The NFL took control of the investigation soon thereafter and Wilkinson began reporting to Goodell’s office until the probe was concluded in July of 2021.
As a result of the investigation, the team was fined $10 million, and Snyder temporarily stepped away from day-to-day control of the franchise in favor of his wife, Tanya.
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democrat, Illinois), who chairs the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, accused the league of being evasive
Committee chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (Democrat, New York) has spent months investigation the sexual harassment claims against the Commanders and the NFL’s own probe into those allegations, which did not result in a written report
The league probe was supposedly handled independently by Beth Wilkinson (pictured) and her Washington DC law firm
In addition to Johnston’s testimony, another former employee named Melanie Coburn, testified that she was at Snyder’s home in Aspen when he hosted a party with prostitutes for male employees. Other former Commanders employees told HBO ahead of the February hearing that Snyder witnessed male employees sexually harassing – and even groping – female subordinates.
The former employees, including five women and one man, told the Committee in February that they feared retaliation from Snyder.
In response to those claims, the the Commanders hired an outside investigator to look into Johnston’s claim, but the league quickly intervened and assumed control of that investigation as well.
And in April, the committee heard testimony from one former employee who made financial malpractice claims agains the club. Specifically, the team was accused of improperly withholding ticket revenue from visiting teams and refundable deposits from fans.
The Virginia attorney general’s office is also investigating those accusations, which the team also denies.
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