The Washington Commanders and owner Dan Snyder have been subject to several investigations stemming from multiple accusations of workplace misconduct. Now, there’s another added. According to Don Van Natta Jr. of ESPN.com, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia has launched a criminal investigation into allegations of the team engaging in financial improprieties.
A letter from the U.S. House Oversight Committee to the Federal Trade Commission alleging financial improprieties by the COmmanders triggered the latest federal investigation.
The Commanders are accused of withholding ticket revenue supposed to be shared with the NFL’s visitor team pool and failing to refund security deposits made by season-ticket holders.
While the Commanders declined immediate comment, the team’s outside counsel, attorney John Brownlee, provided a statement:
“It’s not surprising that ESPN is publishing more falsehoods based solely on anonymous sources — given today’s announcement,” Brownlee said. “We are confident that, after these agencies have had a chance to review the documents and complete their work, they will come to the same conclusion as the team’s internal review — that these allegations are simply untrue.”
Snyder and the Commanders have been the subject of several investigations in the past two years. The NFL is currently conducting the second of two investigations into workplace misconduct within the team, including by Dan Snyder.
The U.S. House Oversight Committee launched an investigation earlier this year, following the outcry of the NFL’s perceived mishandling of its first investigation led by Beth Wilkinson that concluded last year. The Commanders were fined $10 million and Dan Snyder stepped down from the team’s day-to-day operations as a result.
The Committee’s probe discovered allegations of sexual harassment against Snyder and financial improprieties against the team.
Meanwhile, attorney generals in Virginia and the District of Columbia are investigating the Commanders. D.C. reportedly is planning to “take actions” against Snyder and the team.
ESPN’s report surfaced mere hours after Snyder and his wife Tanya announced they hired Bank of America Securities to help explore all options of a potential sale of the Washington Commanders.
