The Washington Commanders will undergo a review for its alleged financial misconduct, as the attorneys general in Virginia and Washington, D.C., have announced two separate investigations.
The two offices will investigate whether the Commanders engaged in a “troubling pattern of financial conduct” after a former employee alleged the team withheld security deposits and hid money meant to be distributed throughout the NFL. The allegations pose a challenge for the team as it seeks to relocate its stadium, relying on competition between Virginia, Maryland, and Washington to land a high bid.
“To be clear, I have not prejudged the issues raised regarding the Commanders,” Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares wrote in a letter to the team, which was obtained by the Washington Examiner. “However, I view it as my responsibility to carefully examine the material facts regarding this matter after it was brought to my attention. I request full cooperation and transparency from your client during this inquiry.”
Washington, D.C., Attorney General Karl Racine confirmed his office has been investigating the team for multiple allegations of sexual harassment, workplace misconduct, and financial impropriety — collecting more than half a million pages of documents since the fall of 2021.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS DENY FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS
“The disturbing details of misconduct by the Washington Commanders and Dan Snyder that we’ve seen in extensive public reporting are deeply troubling,” Racine said in a statement. “No one should face mistreatment at work, and no organization can evade the law.”
The football team has categorically denied any wrongdoing. The allegations emerged after the House Oversight Committee released a report in early April that the team withheld security deposits for up to 2,000 customers and hid money meant to be distributed throughout the NFL, according to testimony from a former employee.
The team retained nearly $5 million in deposits from customers who were unlikely to request a refund, returning that revenue to the franchise’s accounting system by attributing it to unrelated events, said Jason Friedman, former vice president of sales and customer service for the franchise. Additionally, the team “underreported” ticket revenue that was meant to be distributed to the entire league, he said.
The allegations arise from a separate investigation into more than 650,000 internal emails that some former employees claim showcase racist and misogynistic comments. The investigation initially looked into claims Snyder fostered a hostile work environment but was later expanded to determine whether the franchise engaged in financial impropriety.
The most recently announced inquiries add to a string of controversies for the Commanders, as the NFL team is also under investigation for claims of sexual harassment and a hostile workplace fostered by Snyder.
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It’s unclear whether Maryland will join Virginia and Washington in investigating the Commanders, and representatives for the team declined to offer comment to the Washington Examiner. The Commanders stadium is located in Maryland, and the state said it would not engage in a bidding war to keep the team at FedEx Field in Landover.
