Congress: Snyder ran ‘shadow’ probe
Commanders owner Dan Snyder conducted a “shadow investigation” that sought to discredit former employees making accusations of workplace sexual harassment, hired private investigators to intimidate witnesses, and used an overseas lawsuit as a pretext to obtain phone records and emails, according to a document released by a House committee Wednesday.
The Committee on Oversight and Reform is investigating the Commanders’ workplace culture following accusations of pervasive sexual harassment by team executives of women employees. It released the memo ahead of a hearing in Washington that featured testimony from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, appearing remotely from New York.
Snyder was invited to testify but declined, citing overseas business commitments and concerns about due process. The committee chairwoman, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., announced during the hearing that she plans to issue a subpoena to compel a deposition from Snyder next week.
The 29-page memo alleges Snyder tried to discredit the people accusing him and other team executives of misconduct and also tried to influence an investigation of the team conducted for the NFL by attorney Beth Wilkinson’s firm.
Goodell told the committee that the team’s culture has transformed as a result of the Wilkinson probe and that “Dan Snyder has been held accountable.” Asked by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-mich., whether he would remove Snyder as owner, Goodell said, “I don’t have the authority to remove him.”
An NFL owner can only be removed by a three-quarters majority vote of fellow owners.
The NFL fined the team $10 million last year and Snyder stepped away from its day-to-day operations after Wilkinson presented her findings to Goodell. However, the league didn’t release a written report of Wilkinson’s findings.
The NFL and six of its teams filed for arbitration in the lawsuit that alleges they engaged in racial discrimination. If the league’s request is successful, Goodell would be the arbitrator. The league and the teams filed papers late Tuesday with a judge presiding over a lawsuit filed by Brian Flores after he was fired in January as coach of the Dolphins. Flores now works as an assistant for the Steelers. Two other Black coaches in the league joined his lawsuit, in which he alleges that the league engages in racist hiring practices . ... Former DT Tony Siragusa died Wednesday. He was 55. The cause of death wasn’t yet available. Known as “Goose,” Siragusa played the first seven seasons of his career with the Colts and then five with the Ravens. He was a key member of the Ravens’ dominant defense on its 2000 Super Bowl championship team. After his retirement, Siragusa was a sideline analyst for Fox Sports from 2003 until 2015 . ... Ravens LB Jaylon Ferguson died Tuesday. He was 26. The cause of death wasn’t yet available. Ferguson set the FBS career sacks record with 45 during his college career at Louisiana Tech. He was a third-round pick of the Ravens in 2019.
Colleges: Oklahoma advanced to the finals of the College World Series with a 5-1 victory over Texas A&M in Omaha, Neb. The Sooners’ opponent in the best-ofthree series starting Saturday will be either Arkansas or Mississippi.
NBA: The Trail Blazers acquired Pistons F Jerami Grant for a protected 2025 firstround pick and additional draft assets, ESPN reported. Grant, 28, averaged 19.2 points per game last season.