At Snyder’s behest, his legal team used private investigators to harass and intimidate witnesses and created a 100-page dossier targeting victims, witnesses and journalists who had shared “credible public allegations of harassment” against the group. The House Oversight and Reform Committee released a 29-page note Wednesday outlining the findings of its eight-month investigation into how Commanders and the NFL handled allegations of rampant sexual harassment of female employees. The report came ahead of a hearing in which league commissioner Roger Goodell was expected to appear and be questioned. Snyder turned down two requests to appear, citing a “long-term business conflict.” New York Democrat Carolyn B. Maloney, chair of the committee, wrote that the investigation revealed evidence that Snyder was trying to defame those who had claimed against the group and create “an acquittal” that Snyder was not to blame for the offense, which allegedly took place from 2006 to 2019, almost the entire term of his property. To that end, Snyder and his lawyers also collected thousands of emails from Bruce Allen, who was a Commanders executive from 2009 to 2019, in an attempt to accuse Allen of creating a toxic work environment and try to influence the NFL investigation through direct access to the league and Beth Wilkinson, the lawyer who led the league report, according to the note. A Snyder spokesman said in a statement that the commission’s inquiry was “predetermined from the beginning” and claimed that the team had addressed these issues in the workplace “years ago”. The NFL was aware of Snyder’s actions, the note said, “but failed to take substantive action to prevent them.” Wilkinson’s investigation led the league to fine Snyder $ 10 million and oust him from the club’s day-to-day activities, but the NFL did not ask Wilkinson to prepare a written report, a decision that was taken over by both elected officials and former team members involved in the investigation.
Understand the recent NFL controversy
Card 1 of 8 A wave of control. The most popular sports league in America faces criticism and legal issues on many fronts, ranging from discrimination to athlete injuries. Here’s a look at some of the recent controversy facing the NFL, its executives and teams: Allegations of possible fraud. A former Washington Commanders team member claimed that the team earned revenue from ticket sales intended to be shared with the rest of the NFL and withheld security deposits from fans. The franchise has sent 102 pages of contradictory documents to the Federal Trade Commission. Allegations of sexual harassment. Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Commanders, is being investigated by the NFL following allegations of sexual harassment against him by former employees. In July, the league fined the franchise $ 10 million after investigating allegations of harassment at the team’s front desks. A discouraging culture for women. Following the Ray Rice scandal in 2014, the NFL stepped up its efforts to recruit and promote women. But more than 30 former staff members interviewed by the Times described a suffocating corporate culture that has made many women feel marginalized. Six attorneys general have warned the league to tackle the problems otherwise it may face investigation. Goodell will tell the committee on Wednesday that the tournament had “compelling reasons” to limit the Wilkinson report to an oral briefing, ie to maintain the confidentiality of the participants. “We were open and direct about the fact that the culture in the workplace of Commanders was not only unprofessional, but toxic for too long,” Goodell said in his prepared statement. He added that there was a “substantial transformation” of the group’s office and that “it bears no resemblance to the workplace described in this committee”. The committee, which said its intention was to look at the failures of Governors and the NFL and to strengthen workplace protection for all employees, will present its findings at Wednesday’s hearing. The NFL launched a second investigation into the Commanders earlier this year in response to a new allegation of sexual harassment directly involving Snyder at a congressional roundtable in February. Goodell said the findings of the investigation, led by attorney Mary Jo White, would be made public. The committee note also cites additional examples of Snyder’s direct role in creating a workplace that Goodell acknowledged was characterized by widespread disrespect and harassment. The team’s former chief operating officer told the committee that Snyder “refused to take action” against a coach who allegedly stroked a public relations officer and fired workers who had consensual relations with male civil servants, while football companies . In addition, the Washington Post reported that Wilkinson’s investigation examined a 2009 confidential settlement alleging that Snyder was reaching out to a female employee and asking her to have sex.
