|
Crucially, the NFL said it will release a written report to the
public. When the franchise hired lawyer Beth Wilkinson in 2020
to investigate initial allegations of a culture of sexual
harassment in its workplace, her complete findings were never
released.
White previously worked with the NFL to investigate sexual and
racial harassment allegations against Carolina Panthers owner
Jerry Richardson, who eventually sold the team in 2018.
In a House Oversight Committee roundtable earlier this month,
six former team employees testified about Washington's
misogynistic workplace culture. Among the most explosive new
allegations came from Tiffani Johnston, a former marketing
coordinator and cheerleader who said Snyder placed his hand on
her thigh during a work dinner in 2006 and later tried to push
her into a limousine outside the restaurant.
Johnston also claimed that Snyder demanded a photo of her in
lingerie taken for a promotional calendar be sent to him before
it was edited or altered for the calendar.
Snyder has denied the new allegations, while saying previous
claims had already been investigated.
In a release Friday, though, the teams says it welcomes the
investigation.
"The Washington Commanders are pleased that the NFL has
appointed Mary Jo White to look into the recent allegations made
by Tiffani Johnson. The Commanders have always been intent on
having a full and fair investigation of this matter conducted,
and to releasing the results of that investigation. Given the
Team's confidence in Ms. White's ability to conduct such a full
and fair investigation, the Commanders will not separately
pursue an investigation, and will cooperage fully with Ms.
White."
Some of the witnesses who spoke out earlier this month placed
blame on the NFL for not punishing Snyder and the Commanders
more following the Wilkinson investigation. In 2021, the team
was fined $10 million, and Snyder was forced to cede --
temporarily -- day-to-day operational control of the team.
"The NFL is now complicit in this scandal," Washington's
director of marketing Melanie Coburn told Congress. "Ten months,
more than 120 witnesses and nothing. Roger Goodell's claim that
he was trying to protect us is outrageous and cowardly. The
public optics of him caring is appalling. Goodell betrayed every
woman who suffered harassment and abuse at the Washington
Football Team."
--Field Level Media
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
