The NFL may not be able to publicly release the findings into its investigation into the Washington Commanders because without permission from team owner Daniel Snyder, according to the House Committee for Oversight and Reform.
That would be a stark contrast from what NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell previously stated. Goodell contended the league cannot release the internal investigation to protect the anonymity of the numerous witnesses who spoke as part of the investigation headed by Beth Wilkinson.
The Commanders, who at the time were the Washington Football Team, retained Wilkinson and her office in July 2020 for an internal investigation into the team’s workplace culture following sexual harassment and misconduct allegations by former team employees that initially appeared as part of a Washington Post report.
The congressional committee sent a letter to the NFL Friday morning. In the letter, the committee says Washington initially requested a “complete written report” of its findings while making recommendations of essentially an action plan.
However, when the league assumed oversight of the investigation, Goodell instructed Wilkinson to present the findings orally, not written.
The league confirmed in December that there was no written report of Wilkinson’s investigation.
A number of Commanders executives were fired or resigned ahead of the completion of the investigation. Snyder, the owner, has also been a subject of allegations. Previously most were indirectly until Thursday’s roundtable between congress and several former Commanders employees.
Tiffani Johnston accused Snyder of making unwanted sexual advances towards her. That included Snyder placing his hand on her thigh and later tried to aggressively push her to get into his limousine.
Johnston, who was the Commanders cheerleader and marketing manager until 2008, says the only reason Snyder stopped from pushing her into the limo was that his attorney present at the time, advised Snyder “Dan, Dan, this is a bad idea.”
Snyder has denied the allegations levied against him through a statement released.
“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,” Snyder said. “I unequivocally deny having participated in any such conduct, at any time and with respect to any person. Tanya (Snyder) and I will not be distracted by those with a contrary agenda from continuing with the positive personnel and cultural changes that have been made at the Team over the past 18 months, and those that we continue to make both on and off the field.”
In the letter to the league, the congressional committee requested the league to release the findings of the Wilkinson report by Feb. 14.
The committee warns they will seek “alternate means” of acquiring the findings shall the NFL decline to hand over materials to congress.
