DC attorney general sues Commanders owner Dan Snyder, NFL, Goodell

by Jacob Fuller

Rob Issa, FISM News

 

Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder’s legal troubles are growing. This time, he may be dragging the rest of the NFL with him.

The attorney general for the District of Columbia filed a civil lawsuit against Snyder, the NFL, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday, accusing them of colluding to deceive fans and district residents about the league’s investigation into the team’s toxic workplace culture and allegations of sexual assault in an effort to maintain a strong fan base and to increase profits.

“For years, the team and its owner have caused very real and very serious harm and then lied about it to dodge accountability,” D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine said. “They did all of this to hide the truth, protect their images, and let the profits continue to roll.”

Racine’s office began the investigation in the fall of 2021.

Snyder and the team are part of multiple ongoing investigations. Last week, the Snyders announced they hired Bank of America Securities to look into selling part or all of the team. Lawyers for Snyder said they were “exploring all options” and wouldn’t clarify whether the Snyders are looking for investors or want to sell the team entirely. The organization is valued at $5.6 billion by Forbes.

“If he sells the team,” Racine said, “he’s still a defendant.”

The NFL said in a statement: “We reject the legally unsound and factually baseless allegations made today by the D.C. Attorney General against the NFL and Commissioner Goodell and will vigorously defend against those claims.”

Commanders counsel John Brownlee and Stuart Nash said in a statement:

We agree with AG Racine on one thing: the public needs to know the truth. Although the lawsuit repeats a lot of innuendo, half-truths and lies, we welcome this opportunity to defend the organization — for the first time — in a court of law and to establish, once and for all, what is fact and what is fiction.”

DONATE NOW