Seth Udinski, FISM News
In the latest update to the allegations of abuse and a toxic work environment pervading the NFL’s Washington Commanders, team owner Daniel Snyder has begun his hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform, according to an ESPN report on Thursday.
FISM News previously reported that Snyder refused to testify before Congress. However, the longtime owner of the Washington football franchise, previously known as the Redskins, has apparently changed his tune.
“Snyder has committed to providing full and complete testimony, and to answer the Committee’s questions about his knowledge of and contributions to the Commanders’ toxic work environment, as well as his efforts to interfere with the NFL’s internal investigation, without hiding behind non-disclosure or other confidentiality agreements,” a House committee spokesperson said.
Reports indicate that the committee hearing will not be broadcast to the public, although the committee does have the legal ability to release its findings from the hearing.
The committee originally issued a subpoena against Snyder, which Snyder resisted. Now, just before the committee takes its August recess, Snyder has agreed to testify virtually from what sources believe to be a location near the Italian coast on the Mediterranean.
Critics of Snyder are calling on the owner to resign from his position and give up all control of the team following multiple damning reports from former staffers alleging a culture of abuse in Washington, as well as personal accusations of sexual harassment against Snyder.
The Washington Commanders team has hardly been relevant since the franchise’s last Super Bowl title in the early 1990s and has been embroiled in controversy ranging from these recent abuse allegations to the contentious name change battle which culminated with the team dropping its longtime former “Redskins” moniker in the wake of heightened racial tension in 2020. Adding an executive-level controversy such as this will, most likely, only hurt Washington’s chances to compete for an NFC East title as the 2022 season opener draws near.