Dan Snyder of Washington accused of attempting to interfere in NFL investigation, silences witnesses, new report says

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Washington football team owner Dan Snyder is again under fire after an explosive report revealed on Tuesday that he took action to interfere with the NFL investigation into the organization , including an allegation of sexual misconduct against Snyder in 2009.

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that attempts by Beth Wilkinson, an attorney hired by the NFL in July 2020 to investigate the team’s internal culture amid allegations of workplace misconduct, were rebuffed when she tried to interview a former Washington employee about an incident in the 2009 allegation against Snyder – an allegation silenced by a $ 1.6 million settlement.

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Sealed court records revealed that the woman’s attorney, Brendan Sullivan, accused Snyder’s legal team of trying to silence her by offering her more money if she kept the confidentiality of the settlement – a statement that Snyder’s lawyers denied, sources with knowledge of the files told The Post.

Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder leaves the grounds of FedEX Field on November 18, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (John McDonnell / The Washington Post via Getty Images)

According to the report, Wilkinson questioned the woman after the NFL released former Washington employees from their nondisclosure agreements in connection with the investigation, but Wilkinson then received a letter from a company representing Snyder and the team saying that the NDAs did not apply to the 2009 regulations.

This then led to legal action against Wilkinson by David Donovan, the former team’s general counsel, for investigating the allegation of what it would mean for his reputation if a report on his findings were released while ‘he was overseeing the initial investigation.

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David Donovan, the general counsel for the former team that oversaw the 2009 investigation, then filed a lawsuit against Wilkinson asking a judge to ban him from discussing the allegation. According to the Post, he claimed he was taking legal action to defend his reputation against criticism in case Wilkinson’s findings were released.

According to the Post, Wilkinson speculated in court documents that she believed Donovan was acting on someone else’s behalf, “hampering the independent investigation designed to uncover the truth.”

Washington owner Dan Snyder, left, sits with wife Tanya Snyder in the audience as Ron Rivera is introduced as Washington’s new head coach at a press conference in Ashburn, Va. On 2 January 2020 (John McDonnell / The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The report explores several other actions taken by lawyers and others working on Snyder’s behalf to allegedly intervene in the investigation, including allegations that Snyder hired private investigators to intimidate potential witnesses.

The Washington football team did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment on the report, but A. Scott Bolden of the law firm Reed Smith, the firm representing Snyder, told the Post the allegations were “false”.

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Washington football team owner Daniel Snyder watches warm-ups before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Fed Ex Field on August 22, 2009 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume / Getty Images)

“It didn’t happen,” Bolden said. “Absolutely no effort has been made by me or by Reed Smith’s attorneys to dissuade anyone from speaking with Beth Wilkinson or otherwise cooperating with her investigation, and no money has been offered to anyone not to not cooperate. Anyone who suggests anything to the contrary is lying. “

Snyder has since quit the day-to-day operations of the team, and the NFL announced a $ 10 million fine in July.

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