Still amid multiple investigations, the Commanders are now being sued. The office of D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine announced Thursday it has filed a lawsuit against Dan Snyder, the Commanders, the NFL and Roger Goodell (Twitter link).
This is a consumer protection lawsuit, according to Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, accusing Snyder and his franchise of, in pursuit of revenue, “colluding to deceive and mislead customers” about the investigation into the team’s workplace culture.
Snyder and his franchise remain the subject of three investigations — from the House Oversight Committee, the NFL and the office of Virginia’s attorney general. Racine’s lawsuit will also seek to have the findings of the NFL’s previous investigation — a Beth Wilkinson-run probe that, at the league’s request, did not produce a written report — public, according to the Washington Post.
“Faced with public outrage over detailed and widespread allegations of sexual misconduct and a persistently hostile work environment at the Team, Defendants made a series of public statements to convince District consumers that this dysfunctional and misogynistic conduct was limited and that they were fully cooperating with an independent investigation,” the lawsuit reads. “These statements were false and calculated to mislead consumers so they would continue to support the Team financially without thinking that they were supporting such misconduct.”
Racine’s term in office ends Jan. 2, but he believes the case will move forward. His office plans to issue subpoenas, per Jhabvala (Twitter links). Subpoenas emerged in the Oversight Committee’s investigation, but Snyder evaded testimony for weeks. Eventually, the embattled owner did testify but did so remotely and without being under oath. Those circumstances allowed Snyder to bypass certain questions during that hearing. Goodell also testified before the Oversight Committee this summer, doing so before Snyder.
Repeated allegations of toxic workplace culture and financial impropriety led to this latest batch of trouble for Snyder. He and other team executives have been accused of withholding ticket revenue from opposing teams and keeping refundable deposits from fans. The Committee also accused Snyder’s franchise of dishonesty with the NFL regarding sharable revenue. A former employee, testifying to the Committee, indicated Washington had two separate books — one with the full figures and another with underreported ticket revenue. Regarding ticket revenue, Grant Paulson of 106.7 The Fan tweets the team has sent a letter to various season-ticket holders — some from the not-so-recent past — indicating the team owes a balance to certain fans.
This endless spree of trouble has led to the threat of owners voting to remove Snyder from his 23-year ownership post, which would be an NFL first. It is uncertain if there are 24 owners willing to vote Snyder out, but some likely would. Jim Irsay indicated 24 removal votes could be there, with the Colts owner speaking out after an ESPN report indicated Snyder had conducted shadow investigations of select other owners. Snyder later denied that charge.
The prospect of owners assembling votes against Snyder hovered over the Commanders owner for much of 2022. However, Snyder has since begun the process of exploring a Commanders sale. After defiantly indicating he would never sell the team, Snyder is believed to be seeking a $7 billion sum for the franchise. That would surpass the Broncos’ 4.65 billion haul fetched this summer. The Broncos’ price more than doubled the previous NFL record. Several prospective buyers have emerged.
Regardless of a sale, Snyder remains in hot water. No timelines exist regarding the completion of the three investigations. As of now, the owner is believed to be operating without restrictions in his ownership role. Wilkinson’s investigation previously led to a de facto suspension, but that is believed to be over.
This is kind of a dumb suit. They can absolutely make those statements.
What a farce! Not a WFC or Snyder fan, but this feels like a headline grabbing power tripping waste of taxpayer money kind of a suit.
This Racine is just another clown trying to rack up some political points.
How many fans go through the process of thinking “Well, I have to be sure the workplace environment of the organization is meeting ethical standards before I purchase tickets to the game”? The reality is that until the media made a story of this, few if any fans cared one iota about NFL workplace environments and the majority still don’t care as long as they get to see their favorite team compete.
It’s DC, so there are too many clowns to count. The current owner of The Football Team might be the biggest clown of them all.
So Racine is out of office on January 2nd and the new DC Attorney General will be Brian Schwalb. The DC Attorney General has no authority in Virginia, the location of the workplace charges.
This month alone Racine has sued The Commanders, Dan Snyder, Rodger Goodell, Albertson’s and Kroger, halted the Alberston’s and Kroger business merger, secured funds against affordable housing, and had joined a group of lawyers to a program to provide state legislators sole unchecked authority to make election rules.
Karl Racine is attempting to set up his political future. He is building his pollical funds from business deals that donate for him to go away. He then will be able to say that he stared down the NFL and horrible owners like Dan Snyder and he will do the same for you.
I can’t imagine that, for the time being, this will make selling the franchise any easier…
I imagine Goodell et al really dislike this lawsuit. They want that internal review to stay private.
Snyder is being cancelled – it has nothing to do with football or his team, DC just hates his politics.
DC “hates” his ownership.
He’s a c*nt without even needing his politics
I wonder if they would go after another local business with the same charges. Doubt it. This is a marketing campaign for a political agenda.
Gee, I wonder what the difference between ‘another local business’ and an anti-trust-exempt, ~$5-7 billion dollar franchise of a $100+ billion business?
Cannot believe people are taking Snyder’s side, but here we are. NFL fans remain the dumbest in sports.
I, like you, can’t believe people are actually taking Snyder’s side on this either, rct.
As for the OP, can you name another business that has allegedly withheld refundable security deposits from customers? Let’s not paint Dan Snyder as some poor victim of a witch-hunt here . This isn’t about some sort of political agenda. This is about ethics. There is a right and a wrong way to do business, and Snyder does everything wrong.
So…what’s behind it all? Irsay and friends hiring the DA to push Snyder Syndrome out of the ring of plenty?
I believe the owners had Irsay make that public statement. Thorn they behind closed doors told Snyder they have the votes to remove him. They apologized for Irsay going on record. The told Dan look we won’t drag you through the mud we have the 25 votes it’s best you sell and we won’t say word…. Because if he is removed he gets what eve the offer is. This makes the most sense he can pick the new owner and the sale value.
Makes sense. Snyder changed his tune as if somebody planted a horsehead in his sheets.