Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder faced more allegations during an investigation of the team as a “toxic workplace” before a Congressional roundtable on Thursday.
Tiffani Johnson said she was “strategically” seated next to Snyder at a work dinner “not to discuss business, but to allow Dan Snyder to place his on my thigh under the table.
Johnson was a marketing and events coordinator for the Washington team.
“I learned that job survival meant I should continue my conversation with another co-worker rather than call out Dan Snyder right then in the moment,” Johnston continued. “I also learned later that evening how to awkwardly laugh when Dan Snyder aggressively pushed me toward his limo with his hand on my lower back, encouraging me to ride with him to my car. I learned how to continue to say no even though a situation was getting more awkward, uncomfortable and physical. I learned that the only reason Dan Snyder removed his hand from my back and stopped pushing me toward his limo was because his attorney intervened and said ‘Dan, Dan, this is a bad idea. A very bad idea, Dan.’ I learned that I should remove myself from Dan’s grip while his attorney was distracting him.”
Johnston said the incident occurred either in 2005 or 2006 at the Oceanaire restaurant in downtown Washington. A letter from Jason Friedman, another former employee, was presented at the roundtable, stating he had witnessed Snyder trying to steer Johnston into the limo.
Johnston said she was later told to keep quiet about Snyder’s “advance,” adding that there was no one in HR to complain to.
Snyder issues a statement apologizing while calling the claims “outright lies.”
“I apologize again today for this conduct, and fully support the people who have been victimized and have come forward to tell their stories,” he said then adding “real change” has been made in the team’s workplace.
Snyder continued: “While past conduct at the Team was unacceptable, the allegations leveled against me personally in today’s roundtable — many of which are well over 13 years old — are outright lies. I unequivocally deny having participated in any such conduct, at any time and with respect to any person.”