The Washington Commanders are facing a lawsuit filed by District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine.
He made the announcement in a thread on Twitter Thursday.
“My office is suing Commanders owner Dan Snyder, the Commanders, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and the NFL for colluding to deceive District residents—the heart of the Commanders’ fanbase—about an investigation into toxic workplace culture,” Racine wrote.
He continued, “After public reporting revealed that sexual misconduct, harassment, and misogyny ran rampant for decades at the team, the defendants promised DC residents that the league was going to fix this toxic culture, including by fully cooperating with an independent investigation.”
After public reporting revealed that sexual misconduct, harassment, and misogyny ran rampant for decades at the team, the defendants promised DC residents that the league was going to fix this toxic culture, including by fully cooperating with an independent investigation.
— AG Karl A. Racine (@AGKarlRacine) November 10, 2022
Racine went on to accuse the NFL of turning a “blind eye to Snyder’s extensive efforts to silence or intimidate witnesses, and the NFL and Commanders entered into a secret agreement that gave Snyder power to veto the release of any results.”
The statement continues, “With today’s lawsuit, we’re standing up for DC residents who were lied to and deceived. And we’re standing with the brave victims and employees of the team who told us the truth during our investigation and came forward about what they suffered and witnessed while working.”
With today’s lawsuit, we’re standing up for DC residents who were lied to and deceived.
— AG Karl A. Racine (@AGKarlRacine) November 10, 2022
And we’re standing with the brave victims and employees of the team who told us the truth during our investigation and came forward about what they suffered and witnessed while working.
According to Racine, “Because these actions largely took place outside the District, we do not have jurisdiction to specifically file suit regarding the workplace harassment and misconduct.”
By suing today, we are using every enforcement tool at our disposal to hold the Commanders, Dan Snyder, the NFL, and Goodell accountable.
— AG Karl A. Racine (@AGKarlRacine) November 10, 2022
Read the complaint: https://t.co/Vt1ZvgZIeG
CNBC noted the NFL team and Snyder have previous denied the allegations of misconduct within the organization.
Earlier this month, the outlet also reported that Snyder hired Bank of America to explore “potential transactions” after putting the team up for sale.
Multiple outlets later reported Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is interested in bidding for the team.
Other potential bidders reportedly include media mogul Byron Allen.
