Tag: House Oversight Committee

Attorneys for former Washington employees ask the NFL, owners to bar Dan Snyder from suing accusers

Lawyers representing more than 40 former Washington employees asked Roger Goodell and the NFL to bar Dan Snyder from suing his accusers as a part of the team’s sale.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and multiple owners have reportedly received requests from the attorneys representing more than 40 former Washington employees to prohibit Commanders owner Daniel Snyder from suing his accusers as a provision for the sale of the franchise, according to Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

Here’s an excerpt of the letter from attorneys Lisa Banks and Debra Katz:

As you can imagine, we were happy to learn last week that there appears to be a deal in principle for the sale of the Washington Commanders, which will ensure that Daniel Snyder will no longer be able to exert his malign influence over team employees, the Washington area community, or the National Football League.

We understand that the League and other team owners must review and approve the terms of any sale between Mr. Snyder and the new ownership group. In doing so, we request that you and the NFL owners demand that the sale agreement includes a contractual provision that forbids Mr. Snyder from initiating litigation against any of the individuals who participated in the various investigations into the team, including but not limited to our 40 [plus] clients.

Clients of Banks and Katz were interviewed as a part of the NFL’s investigation into Snyder, led by Mary Jo White, and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform’s probe, which wrapped in late last year. 

White’s investigation is expected to conclude at any moment, and Goodell has promised to release the results whether Snyder sells the team or not. 

Snyder has reportedly declined to be interviewed by White in her investigation.

Jerry Jones speaks on his relationship with Dan Snyder

Jones on Snyder: “If he decided to move on, who could possibly blame him?”

Now that the 2022 NFL season has ended, the next step for the Washington Commanders appears to be owner Daniel Snyder selling the team he’s owned since 1999.

It’s been a difficult time for Snyder since July 2020, when The Washington Post released its first report on the widespread toxic workplace culture deep within Washington’s organization. The team has undergone two name changes, and Snyder has been the subject of multiple investigations.

In early November, it was revealed Snyder had hired Bank of American to explore potential transactions for his team. As you might expect, Washington fans rejoiced.

As for Snyder, Colts owner Jim Irsay spoke out against him multiple times regarding his ownership of the Commanders.

However, everything would be fine for Snyder because he still had the support of influential Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, right?

Even that support came into question in October when an ESPN report suggested that Snyder had dirt on other NFL owners if they tried to remove him, including his longtime friend, Jones.

Despite that ESPN report, which Snyder’s attorneys refuted, Jones still supported Snyder, at least publicly. In December, he called the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Snyder “biased” and “stupid.”

Where does Jones stand now?

“I would say we’ve had to be more formal in our conversations,” Jones said in a December interview via Jarrett Bell of USA TODAY. “We’re not as cavalier as we might have been. Follow me? Don’t know who’s listening. Who’s what? So, we’ve had to be more formal.”

So, according to Jones, it’s about business only. For years, the pair were close as Jones was Snyder’s biggest ally, and the two sat together at league meetings.

Jones still doesn’t believe there is any evidence that would force other NFL owners to Snyder out. Yet, with everything Snyder is facing, from the multiple investigations to the lawsuits and inability to land a new stadium, Jones sees this as a potentially good time for Snyder to sell.

“He’s got the perfect storm,” Jones said. “If he decided to move on, who could possibly blame him? Or her [Snyder’s wife and co-owner, Tanya]? On top of that, he’s not the most beloved guy around, which I guess I might identify with a bit, too.”

That last statement is probably why Jones and Snyder have enjoyed a friendly relationship over the years.

But Jones had one more thing to add:

“Is he worth me taking a sword? He’s not Al Davis,” Jones said of Snyder. “For me, he’s not.”

That says it all.

Jones mentioned how new owners are often beneficial to the NFL. And Washington has no shortage of suitors, with some big-time bids coming in last month to close the first round of bidding.

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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell: ‘I don’t have any expectations’ on sale of Commanders

Roger Goodell is questioned about a potential sale of the Washington Commanders.

One of the hot topics at the NFL’s league meetings in Dallas this week was the Washington Commanders. Particularly a potential sale of the Commanders.

As expected, when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell took the stage, he was asked about the Commanders, and the commish didn’t reveal much.

“I don’t have any expectations on that,” Goodell stated. “Dan’s [Snyder] statement that he put out was that he was exploring that, and we’ll continue to work with him on that.”

Goodell is referring to the report last month that Snyder had hired Bank of America Securities to explore potential transactions with the team, a report the team confirmed.

Last week, the House Oversight Committee released the report from its investigation into owner Daniel Snyder and the Commanders, saying Snyder “permitted and participated” in the team’s toxic workplace culture.

Much more was included in the report, including that the NFL was complicit in Washington’s attempt to bury the Beth Wilkinson investigation.

Goodell again spoke of the positive changes in Washington’s organization since the Wilkinson investigation.

“The change has occurred with the Washington Commanders organization,” Goodell said. “That’s verified by audit. That’s the outcome we were seeking.”

Those comments aren’t going to excite Washington fans hoping Snyder sells the team. However, Goodell wasn’t going to publicly reveal what was happening behind the scenes with the Commanders.

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Will the sale of the Commanders come soon enough?

After Thursday’s news, many Washington fans are wondering when the Commanders will finally be sold.

In one sense, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform didn’t really reveal what we didn’t already know or strongly suspect.

Yet, in another sense, with the final report by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform released Thursday, I was left with the feeling, “I know Snyder is going to sell the team but is there any way we can pick up the pace here and get this franchise sold quicker?”

Another new release of negative news regarding Daniel Snyder? How soon will it conclude?

Snyder began as a meddlesome owner resulting in general manager Charley Casserly “resigning” before the 1999 season. Talk about red flags! Some of us raised our eyebrows with that one, and certainly, the 2000 offseason confirmed our fears. Snyder terribly overrated his abilities as a football executive. He simplistically thought himself a NFL general manager.

Sadly, over the last two decades, we have learned that he apparently didn’t relate to his workforce well, interact well with them, supervise well, listen well, empathize well and on and on.

In this last year, he was still attempting to place the blame for the workplace culture on Bruce Allen, who frankly appeared aloof, smug and uncooperative himself many times. It was like the two deserved one another. Unfortunately, so many others in the workplace would suffer from the leadership or lack thereof from Snyder and Allen.

Might it have been Snyder’s testifying before the committee and the subsequent report that would follow, that led him to look into selling the franchise? Might the final straw have been when his wife Tanya was mercilessly booed by Commanders fans a month ago at a home game?

Tanya, a breast cancer survivor herself, appeared in a video presentation regarding Breast Cancer Awareness on the FedEx Field big screen. Fans spontaneously booed her and chanted “sell the team.”

Regardless of what you know and feel about Daniel Snyder, each and every fan who treated Tanya so rudely after all she has been through physically and emotionally suffering with cancer, should be ashamed of themselves. It was entirely thoughtless, rude, crude, and brutish.

Perhaps it was the last straw for Tanya? Might it have been the last straw for Dan? Of course, I don’t know.

But we do know the Snyders have neither challenged nor denied reports of looking into selling the team. Therefore, they are going to sell.

I wonder if Thursday’s report simply results in many like myself wanting to speed the sale and finally put this era behind us?

House Oversight Committee ranking member on Snyder investigation: ‘It’s over’

One investigation into the Washington Commanders and owner Daniel Snyder appears to be over.

Now that the Republicans are projected to take control of the United States House of Representatives, what does it mean for the investigation into the Washington Commanders and owner Daniel Snyder?

Per Mark Maske of the Washington Post, the Republicans on the Oversight Committee released a statement from ranking member James Comer on the Snyder investigation: “It’s over.”

The Republicans will officially take control in January. According to Maske, it’s expected that the Democratic-led investigation will still issue a memo or final report.

Throughout the investigation, Republican members stated the investigation was a waste of the committee’s time and resources.

“It seems to me an awful lot of Committee—or, rather, taxpayer—resources were expended to investigate the Commanders and the NFL, which are both private organizations that do not employ government officials and are not in the purview of this Committee, said Rep. Virginia Foxx [R-N.C].”

This does not impact the other investigations into Snyder. Last week, Washington D.C. attorney general Karl Racine announced the filing of a civil and consumer protection lawsuit against Snyder, the Commanders, the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell.

The NFL is currently investigating Snyder, led by Mary Jo White. There is also the U.S. attorney’s office from the Eastern District of Virginia investigating alleged financial improprieties.

Two weeks ago, the news broke that Snyder had hired Bank of America to explore potential transactions with the Commanders. Some believe Snyder will sell the entire team.

The potential bidders have already lined up, as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and music mogul Jay-Z are reportedly one of the groups interested in making a bid for the storied franchise.

Dan Snyder exploring options to sell Commanders

Daniel Snyder hired Bank of America to consider “potential transactions,” which include selling a minority stake or the entire team.

Could Daniel Snyder be on the verge of selling the Washington Commanders?

According to Mike Ozanian of Forbes, Snyder has retained Bank of America Securities in an effort to sell the Commanders. It’s important to note that Ozanian said Snyder is exploring all options, such as selling a minority stake in the team or selling the team outright.

Bank of America helped Steve Ballmer purchase the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers in 2014.

Snyder and his family gained complete control of the Commanders in March 2021 when he acquired the remaining 40% of the team from his former partners, Dwight Schar, Fred Smith and Robert Rothman. The NFL approved a $450 million debt waiver for Snyder to acquire the remaining 40% of the team.

Snyder is currently under investigation by the NFL, U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform and others.

After Forbes broke the story, the Commanders released the following statement confirming Snyder’s plans.

We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops.

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Jim Irsay on Daniel Snyder: ‘I believe there is merit to removing him as owner’

Colts owner Jim Irsay with strong comments regarding Daniel Snyder.

The Washington Post reported back in September that some NFL owners’ opinions toward Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder had shifted. The story noted that multiple owners believed “serious consideration may be given to attempting to oust Snyder from the league’s ownership ranks.”

The NFL owner’s meetings began Tuesday, and while Snyder’s current situation was not on the agenda, it was expected to be a topic of conversation among owners.

In what should be considered a massive development, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay went on record with his thoughts on Snyder’s ownership.

Snyder is currently under multiple investigations by the NFL and the U.S. House Oversight Committee, and ESPN published an explosive report last week saying Snyder reportedly told those close to him he had “dirt” on other NFL owners. Much more was included in ESPN’s report, which can be found here.

In addition to the quote Ian Rapoport tweeted, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated had more from Irsay, where he went even further.

For the NFL to remove Snyder as an owner, they would need 24 votes from other owners. In ESPN’s report last week, it was reported that Snyder had lost the support of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who denied that report.

It will be interesting to see if any other owners go on the record regarding Snyder.

D.C. Attorney General plans to take action against the Commanders and owner Daniel Snyder

The Commanders say they’ve cooperated fully with the investigation.

The NFL owner’s meetings begin Tuesday, and it’s no surprise that Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder is in the news ahead of the league meetings.

On Monday night, Mark Maske, Nicki Jhabvala and Liz Clarke of The Washington Post reported that Washington D.C. attorney general Karl Racine has nearly completed his investigation into Snyder and the Commanders and plans to take further action.

Racine and his team “are moving full steam ahead,” according to that person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, adding: “Dan Snyder, the Commanders, and the NFL will soon face accountability for their actions. … Snyder will no longer be able to dodge subpoenas or avoid testifying or answering questions.”

While the NFL owner’s meetings are on Tuesday, Snyder’s situation isn’t on the agenda. However, once team executives have left the room, the owners could have a discussion about Snyder. Snyder’s wife and co-owner, Tanya, and team president Jason Wright are expected to represent Washington at the meetings.

According to The Post, Racine’s office began their investigation in April after reports of alleged financial improprieties by the Commanders, which the team strongly denied.

Snyder and the team are currently under two investigations, one from the House Oversight Committee and a second NFL investigation led by Mary Jo White.

There was a report last month that other NFL owners believe they could either convince Snyder to sell or gather enough votes to force him to sell the franchise.

A team spokesperson reached out to Commanders Wire and gave the following statement:

“The team’s lawyers have met with counsel at the Attorney General’s office on multiple occasions, and no one from that office has ever indicated that the office is planning to take any action against the team or Dan Snyder,” the statement read.  “The Commanders organization has cooperated fully with the investigation, including by voluntarily producing over a hundred thousand documents, because it has nothing to hide.  The anonymous leaks are unconscionable, and DC Attorney General Racine should confirm that the leaks didn’t come from any member of his office or anyone affiliated with his office.”