Former Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder fined $60 MILLION by NFL after investigation into misconduct and financial improprieties

The NFL has fined former Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder $60 million following an investigation into allegations of misconduct and financial impropriety, the league said Thursday.

The announcement came after the sale of his team to the Josh Harris-led consortium was confirmed for $6.05 billion.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell named former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Jo White an independent investigator following allegations against Snyder by former team aide Tiffani Johnston during a 2022 Congressional roundtable.

According to the NFL, White and her colleagues conducted an extensive independent investigation over 17 months, including interviews with dozens of witnesses, sometimes on multiple occasions, a review of more than 10,000 documents and assistance from a team of forensic accountants.

“The behavior underpinned by Ms. White’s findings has no place in the NFL,” Goodell said.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (L) with new Commanders owner Josh Harris (right)

“We strive for workplaces that are safe, respectful and professional. What Ms. Johnston experienced is inappropriate and against NFL values.”

Snyder’s ownership of the club came under strain amid NFL and Congressional investigations into the team’s work culture and possible financial improprieties.

Johnston, a former cheerleader and marketing executive for the Commanders, told members of a House Oversight Committee that Snyder had made sexual advances on her. Snyder has denied Johnston’s claims, calling them “outright lies.”

According to White’s report, she accepted the claim that Snyder, without permission, placed his hand on Johnston’s thigh under a restaurant table during a work-related dinner.

White also mentioned Johnston’s claim that Snyder shoved her into the backseat of his car in an attempt to get her to him after dinner ended.

The fine was announced shortly after the NFL said the owners unanimously approved the sale of the Commanders to a group led by the co-owners of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.

Following the release, Lisa J. Banks and Debra S. Katz, the attorneys representing more than 40 former Commanders employees, including Johnston and Jason Friedman, another star witness in White’s investigation, said they were proud of their clients.

“More than three years ago, our clients courageously came forward to denounce the blatant sexual harassment and abuse at the Washington Commanders, and today they can claim total justification,” a statement read.

Dan Snyder has been forced to sell the team he said he would never sell, pay a huge fine to the NFL, and an extensive public record now exists of his personal misconduct and the misconduct that occurred under his leadership.

“We are proud of our clients’ courage to come forward publicly and work tirelessly to hold Mr. Snyder accountable.

The public is especially indebted to Tiffani Johnston and our many clients who testified of the sexual harassment they endured on a daily basis while working for the Commanders. Their testimony and subsequent cooperation with Mary Jo White’s investigation has conclusively refuted Mr. Snyder’s lies about the harassment and abuse that took place and his role in perpetuating it.

Mary Jo White’s extensive research sets the record straight and corroborates our clients’ testimonies, especially regarding Jason Friedman, who has been the subject of a vicious smear campaign by the team for providing evidence – corroborated by Mary Jo White – about the fraudulent financial practices that took place under Mr. Snyder’s direction.

Ex-Commanders employee Tiffani Johnston speaks before the Congressional Oversight Committee

“We demand that Mr. Snyder and the Washington Commanders immediately retract their false and defamatory statements about Mr. Friedman and apologize for their repeated attempts to smear, harass and intimidate those who have come forward.”

However, they also criticized the NFL, questioning why Snyder was able to keep ownership despite knowing about the allegations.

They added: “While today is a long overdue day for our clients – and clearly a day to celebrate their victory – we would be remiss if we did not ask why, after being repeatedly apprised of the numerous allegations against Mr. conceal and avoid liability.

We have repeatedly asked the NFL and Commissioner Goodell to make the sale conditional on a commitment from Snyder that he will not retaliate against our customers and others who participated in these investigations. He has ignored our concerns. What will the NFL do to restore health to our customers and others whose lives have been deeply damaged by Snyder and his organization?”