Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder did not attend last week’s congressional hearing to address the team’s “toxic” workplace culture including widespread allegations of sexual harassment, prompting chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney to issue a subpoena for the Commanders owner to give a deposition.
Monday, the House Oversight and Reform Committee released a statement, claiming Snyder and his lawyer refused service of the subpoena and had again declined to appear before the committee, this time on June 30.
“Mr. Snyder has so far refused to accept service of the committee's subpoena,” the statement read. “While the committee has been and remains willing to consider reasonable accommodations requested by the witnesses, we will not tolerate attempts to evade service of a duly authorized subpoena or seek special treatment not afforded to other witnesses who testified in this matter. The committee will not be deterred from obtaining Mr. Snyder's testimony, and we remain committed to ensuring transparency about the toxic workplace culture at the Washington Commanders and the NFL’s inadequate response."
Snyder’s camp issued a response later that day, insisting he plans to testify at a later date.
“Mr. Snyder has not refused to appear for a deposition,” a Snyder spokesperson said. “The Committee only offered one date—June 30th—and Mr. Snyder’s attorney is out of the country and unavailable on that date.”
Snyder was out of the country last week as well and reportedly plans to be abroad for “large chunks of July,” traveling to Israel for the one-year anniversary of his mother’s death.
Snyder’s lack of cooperation, refusing to acknowledge credible accusations of misconduct, and fostering a hostile environment (he also finds himself at the center of a possible ticketing scam after it was alleged the organization intentionally underreported ticket sales in order to keep a larger share of the profits), would suggest this is all an elaborate stall tactic, using every resource at his disposal to avoid relinquishing control of the team he’s owned since 1999.
Last summer, the NFL handed down a $10-million fine following a yearlong investigation conducted by independent counsel Beth Wilkerson, who uncovered an appalling work atmosphere rife with “bullying” and “intimidation.”
As a result, Snyder has largely been relegated to the sideline, apparently no longer involved in the team’s day-to-day operations, though his presence still looms large over an underachieving franchise embroiled in controversy.
The famously litigious 57-year-old has proven time and again that he won’t go down without a fight with dutiful commissioner Roger Goodell continuing to act as his meat shield. Goodell reiterated last week he doesn’t have the authority to remove Snyder, who would have to be voted out by a three-fourths majority (24 of 32 NFL owners).
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