House

House panel says Commanders owner Dan Snyder to be interviewed on Thursday

by Brad Dress - 07/26/22 10:37 AM ET

Dan Snyder, Joe Theismann — FILE – Dan Snyder, co-owner and co-CEO of the Washington Commanders, poses for photos during an event to unveil the NFL football team’s new identity, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Landover, Md. A woman accused Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder of sexually harassing and assaulting her on a team plane in 2009, and the woman was later paid $1.6 million by the team to settle her claims, according to a document obtained by the Washington Post, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

The House Oversight and Reform Committee will interview Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder on Thursday as part of an investigation into workplace misconduct at the NFL team.

Panel Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) filed a deposition notice that indicates Snyder will appear for the interview via Zoom on Thursday morning.

Earlier this month, Snyder’s attorney Karen Patton Seymour sent a letter to the committee suggesting a couple different dates on which her client could testify, with Thursday being one of them. ESPN had obtained a copy of the letter.

Maloney has been trying to get Snyder to testify for some time. Last month, the Washington owner declined to testify because he had a business conflict in France, although the House committee noted he could have appeared virtually.

The House committee launched its investigation into the NFL franchise in October, following the leak of emails from then-President Bruce Allen, which contained racist and homophobic language.

Snyder has been plagued by allegations of sexual harassment and workplace misconduct, including accusations he presided over a toxic culture that glorified drinking and objectified women.

Also last month, the committee accused Snyder and his legal team of conducting a “shadow investigation” to discredit accusers and lay the blame for misconduct at the feet of Allen, who was fired by Snyder in 2019.

Following the news of Snyder’s scheduled deposition, attorneys Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, who represent more than 40 former Washington Commanders employees, sent a letter to Snyder’s legal team on Tuesday asking them to allow their clients to testify.

Banks and Katz disputed a letter Snyder’s lawyers sent to the House committee, which claimed former employees and witnesses were not tied up by non-disclosure agreements.

While Snyder has released witnesses from NDAs to speak to investigators in at least one separate probe, the attorneys said Snyder has not released their clients from such agreements restricting their ability to speak to the House committee.

“If it is true that Mr. Snyder does not intend to obstruct the ability of witnesses to speak with the Committee, we request that he agree to waive any NDA for that purpose,” Banks and Katz wrote. “That would provide much needed comfort to my clients and many other witnesses so that they can speak freely without fear of legal jeopardy.”

After an investigation of its own revealed a toxic workplace culture, the NFL league fined the Commanders $10 million last summer.

Another investigation from within the Commanders organization was launched following a former cheerleader accusing Snyder personally of sexual harassment in the 2000s.

The House committee, as well as the D.C. and Virginia attorneys general offices, are also probing financial malfeasance at the Commanders after reports circulated the Commanders hid ticket revenue from other league owners.

Updated: 5:58 p.m.