The House Oversight Committee says Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder provided evasive answers and misleading information during his testimony in July.
Snyder’s testimony was part of a larger congressional investigation into the Commanders, which continue to be under the microscope for allegations of sexual harassment and fostering a toxic work environment. He testified in July virtually after agreeing to appear voluntarily in exchange for choosing which questions he wanted to answer.
A 79-page report from the committee details how Snyder evaded questions by stating more than 100 times that he “did not know” or “could not recall information,” and that he gave misleading answers to questions asked by committee members.
The interview centered on Snyder’s interference in an independent investigation conducted by attorney Beth Wilkinson in 2020, with the report stating that the NFL failed to “address Mr. Snyder’s interference” in her review and helped conceal the team’s toxic work environment.
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Snyder had launched a private “shadow” investigation to target former employees and discredit any sexual assault allegations, according to the House.
The report says, “Mr. Snyder provided testimony to the Committee that was often evasive or misleading. … For example, although Mr. Snyder admitted to using private investigators, he testified that he was ‘unaware’ whom his investigators approached and did not ‘remember’ having conversations with his counsel about the individuals targeted.”
Snyder testified that the NFL was alerted to allegations against him that resulted in a $1.6 million settlement with a former employee who accused him of sexual assault. However, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell testified in June that he did not recall Snyder informing them of the allegations.
The owner was fined $10 million last year after reaching an agreement with the NFL on charges that he maintained an unwelcome workplace.
“Over the last year, Mr. Snyder engaged in a series of attempts to interfere with the Committee’s investigation,” the report stated. “Mr. Snyder publicly assailed witnesses, refused to release former employees from their confidentiality obligations, and blocked the Committee’s access to tens of thousands of documents collected during the Wilkinson Investigation.”
The committee’s investigation has come under fire from House Republicans, with Rep. James Comer (R-KY), the ranking Republican on the House Oversight Committee, stating the investigation will end next year when the GOP takes the House majority.
Snyder is at the forefront of two other investigations and lawsuits brought by D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine. One accuses the team of allegedly cheating ticketholders out of their deposits.
The second lawsuit runs similarly to the committee’s investigation, filed as violating the district’s consumer protection law. Racine said Snyder, the Commanders team, the NFL, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell caused “very real and very serious harm” by repeatedly lying and denying knowing anything about instances of alleged sexual misconduct or harassment.
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The House’s report comes at a crucial time for the Commanders as Snyder considers selling the team, announcing in November that he hired Bank of America to “consider potential transactions” regarding team ownership. Calls for Snyder to sell the team have come from fans and those outside the organization for decades amid the team’s constant mediocre performance under his ownership.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who is also the owner of the Washington Post, is reportedly considering a bid for owning the team with artist Jay-Z, and there is speculation surrounding a possible bid from Matthew McConaughey, as well.
