D.C. and Virginia state attorneys general confirm probe of Washington Commanders football team
The Washington Commanders football team is being investigated for issues ranging from financial wrongdoing to sexual harassment, workplace misconduct and ticket sales practices.
Both Virginia and the District are investigating allegations of financial wrongdoing by the Commanders. D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine's office announced that it is examining allegations of sexual harassment, workplace misconduct and ticket sales issues.
The harassment investigation began in the fall of 2021, based on "both public reporting and independent investigative work," Racine's office said.
"The disturbing details of misconduct by the Washington Commanders and Dan Snyder that we've seen in extensive public reporting are deeply troubling. No one should face mistreatment at work, and no organization can evade the law," Racine said of the team and its owner.
Racine's office said it has obtained more than half a million pages of documents from the Washington Commanders and the NFL.
Virginia Attorney General Miyares also confirmed an investigation into alleged financial impropriety outlined in an April 12 letter from the House Oversight Committee to the Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan that was forwarded to attorneys general of Maryland, D.C. and Virginia and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
CBS News obtained the letter Miyares sent to team lawyer Jordan Siev, alerting him to the official inquiry.
"To be clear, I have not prejudged the issues raised regarding the Commanders," Miyares wrote. "However, I view it as my responsibility to carefully examine the material facts regarding this matter after it was brought to my attention."
The Maryland attorney general's office declined to confirm whether it was also investigating the team.
Earlier this month, House Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi wrote to the FTC that the Commanders and team owner Dan Snyder may have engaged in, "troubling, long-running, and potentially unlawful pattern of financial conduct that victimized thousands of team fans and the National Football League."
Jason Friedman, a former sales executive who worked for the team for 24 years, gave an interview to the House panel and provided documents claiming the team had withheld up to $5 million dollars in refundable security deposits owed to some ticket holders. He also claimed the team had concealed some revenue that was owed to the NFL as part of the revenue-sharing agreement. He said the revenue gained through these practices was known internally as "juice."
The Commanders lawyer denied the allegations in a letter to the FTC.
"We adhere to strict internal processes that are consistent with industry and accounting standards, are audited annually by a globally respected independent auditing firm, and are also subject to regular audits by the NFL," the team said in a statement Monday. "We continue to cooperate fully with the Committee's work."
The NFL declined to comment on these specific developments, but a spokesperson said that the league has hired former SEC chair Mary Jo White to look into the committee's allegations that have been sent to the FTC.
The House panel is also looking into allegations of sexual misconduct and a toxic workplace culture. The April 12 letter from the committee said its investigation has found "a longstanding culture of impunity among top executives at the Commanders—from pervasive sexual harassment and other workplace misconduct."
The allegations go all the way up to Snyder, the team's owner. During a roundtable with the committee back in February, former employee Tiffani Johnston accused Snyder of trying to force her to get into his limo and touching her leg inappropriately. An NFL spokesman said White is also looking into those allegations.
The congressional investigation began after the committee claimed the NFL failed to release the full report on the findings of an investigation into the team's workplace culture. Instead, the NFL issued a press release conceding the workplace was unprofessional and "numerous female employees reported having experienced sexual harassment and a general lack of respect in the workplace."
