Lawyers of ex-Washington employees were under impression Beth Wilkinson would lead new investigation into Dan Snyder

The attorneys of Tiffani Johnston and other former Washington Football employees say they will discuss with Johnston about her participation in the NFL’s latest investigation into Dan Snyder and the Washington Commanders.

The NFL appointed former SEC chair Mary Jo White to lead the investigation. However, the attorneys of Johnston were under the impression that Beth Wilkinson, who led the initial investigation into the team’s workplace culture last year, would also head the investigation into Johnston’s recent allegations that directly implicated Snyder.

“Beth Wilkinson conducted a long and comprehensive investigation of the Washington Commanders, and earned the trust of dozens of victims and witnesses who provided her with evidence of pervasive sexual harassment and abuse,” attorney Lisa Banks said in a statement. “We understood that Ms. Wilkinson would also conduct the investigation into Tiffani Johnston’s allegations about Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder, given her unique knowledge of the Commanders organization, its culture of sexual harassment, and Dan Snyder’s credibility. Having a new investigator, with no such prior knowledge, assess Ms. Johnson’s allegations and Mr. Snyder’s denials in a vacuum makes no sense at all. That said, we will discuss with Ms. Johnston her willingness to participate, and are pleased that the NFL has agreed to make the results public. On behalf of our many other clients, we urge Commissioner Goodell to make the same decision with respect to Ms. Wilkinson’s investigation. Certainly the results of that comprehensive investigation would provide an important blueprint for the new investigator to conduct her work.”

Wilkinson conducted a 10-month investigation that started in July 2020 after the initial set of allegations into the Commanders, then named the Washington Football Team, stemming from numerous accounts of sexual misconduct by former employees.

The results were presented to the league orally at the request of commissioner Roger Goodell. According to a Pro Football Talk report, Wilkinson was prepared to recommend Snyder should be forced to sell the Commanders, if the league requested a written report.

The NFL hasn’t released the findings. Yet, the league fined the Washington organization $10 million. Snyder momentarily stepped away from day-to-day operations of the team, but the league contends he is not suspended.

After urging the NFL to publicly release the findings, the House Oversight Committee held a roundtable on Feb. 3, a day after Washington revealed its new team name as the Commanders. 

Johnston did not participate in Wilkinson’s investigation. However, she went public with her allegations of sexual harassment towards Snyder during Congress’ roundtable. Her allegations have prompted the latest probe. 

In a statement following the appointment of White, the Commanders stated the team will no longer pursue its own investigation into Johnston’s allegation and they will fully cooperate with the NFL.