<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1655904608749,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"00000179-379a-dbb2-a7fd-bfda8bfc0000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1655904608749,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"00000179-379a-dbb2-a7fd-bfda8bfc0000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_55900098", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"1036971"} }); ","_id":"00000181-8b9a-d66a-a7c3-cfbfdf420000","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video EmbedThe owner of the Washington Commanders and his legal team opened a “shadow investigation” targeting former employees to discredit their allegations of sexual assault and a toxic workplace.
Daniel Snyder’s legal team compiled a dossier that included the ex-employees, their attorneys, and journalists who reported on the accusations as a way to poke holes in their testimony and shift blame to other team executives, according to a 29-page memo released by the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, just hours ahead of the committee’s hearing that will detail preliminary findings regarding whether the football team fostered a toxic workplace.
“This memorandum describes evidence uncovered by the Committee demonstrating that although publicly, the NFL and Commanders touted the hiring of a respected D.C. attorney to conduct an internal investigation of the Commanders toxic workplace, privately, Commanders owner Daniel Snyder launched a shadow investigation in an apparent effort to discredit his accusers in the eyes of the NFL and offer up an alternative target for the investigation,” Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) wrote.
DOCUMENTS REVEAL DETAILS OF ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT BY COMMANDERS OWNER: REPORT
Snyder also hired private investigators to uncover any inappropriate emails or evidence that former Commanders President Bruce Allen was “responsible for the team’s toxic work culture,” the memo reads. Investigators sifted through more than 400,000 emails and went to the homes of former cheerleaders to collect evidence to present to attorney Beth Wilkinson and the NFL, who opened an investigation into the allegations in 2020.
“[Snyder’s goal] appears to have been to craft an exculpatory narrative to present to the NFL showing that he was not responsible for the Commanders’ toxic work environment but instead was the victim of a coordinated smear campaign,” Maloney wrote.
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 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.
The league initially agreed with Wilkinson to deliver a written report, but the NFL later reversed course and entered into a joint agreement with the Commanders that prohibits sharing documents or information regarding the investigation without the other’s consent. Because the findings were never made public, 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, which 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.
The team owner had until Monday to respond to the lawmakers’ proposal. Goodell is set to appear virtually before the House committee to give his testimony Wednesday.
