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The owner of the Washington Commanders football team sexually assaulted a woman in the back of one of the team’s planes while they were traveling home after a work trip to Las Vegas, legal documents show.
The newly uncovered details shed light on previously reported allegations against Daniel Snyder, who was accused of sexually harassing and assaulting an employee of the team at the time in April 2009. The woman accused the owner of asking her for sex, groping her, and trying to take her clothes off while traveling, according to documents obtained by the Washington Post.
HOUSE URGES COMMANDERS OWNER TO TESTIFY
Under its personal conduct policy in 2009, the NFL required its league office to oversee team investigations of sexual assault. After investigations conclude, the NFL commissioner would be responsible for determining whether discipline is necessary.
The investigation was overseen by then-general counsel David Donovan, who accused the woman of lying to investigators when she told them she had an “impeccable personal and professional reputation,” the documents state. Donovan then sought to discredit her, alleging she wore inappropriate clothing and flirted with several men during the work trip to Las Vegas.
Snyder also denied the woman’s allegations, correspondence shows, and a team investigation later claimed that her accusations were falsely made in order to extort the owner. However, the team agreed three months later to offer a $1.6 million settlement if she agreed not to disclose the accusations publicly.
The allegations emerged after Snyder hired a lawyer in 2020 to investigate allegations of a hostile workplace after several former Commanders employees detailed sexual harassment, abuse, and other workplace misconduct by top team officials. The existence of Snyder’s 2009 settlement was first reported in 2020 while the investigation was ongoing.
The NFL later took over that investigation, and it concluded in the summer of 2021 when the league decided to fine the Commanders $10 million on charges the team tolerated misconduct against its employees.
However, details of the inquiry were not publicly disclosed because of a joint agreement between the NFL and the Commanders that prohibits sharing documents or information regarding the investigation without the other’s consent. Because of this, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee voted to open their own inquiry last fall.
After a roundtable event held by the committee detailing accusations of sexual assault and harassment by former employees, House lawmakers called on both Snyder and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to testify at a hearing set for Wednesday. The hearing is expected to examine how the NFL handled allegations of sexual misconduct, the league’s role in establishing and enforcing standards for teams, and what legislative reforms are needed to address the problems.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Snyder refused to appear before the committee, arguing lawmakers did not grant him a delay so he could have more time to prepare and view key documents in advance. The committee has since urged him to reconsider, offering accommodations to allow him to appear virtually and provide documents that will be used in the hearing.
Snyder had until Monday to respond to the lawmakers’ proposal. Goodell is set to appear virtually before the House committee to give his testimony Wednesday.
