NFL appoints Mary Jo White to investigate new allegations against Dan Snyder

[ad_1]

The NFL informed the House Oversight Committee Friday that it has hired attorney Mary Jo White from the Debevoise & Plimpton law firm to conduct an investigation of new allegations made during the House Committee Roundtable of misconduct against Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder, a league spokesperson told The Athletic.

The spokesperson added that the findings, including a written report, will be made public at the conclusion of the investigation and that any action taken by Commissioner Roger Goodell will be made public as well.

White was formerly chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission for nearly four years under the Obama administration, among other high-profile roles.

She was previously retained by the NFL to lead the investigation into allegations of workplace misconduct by former Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson in 2017; he ultimately sold the franchise and removed himself from day-to-day operations of the club.

This news comes after the NFL announced that the league — and not the Commanders — would hire an investigator to examine sexual harassment allegations made last week by a former team employee, Tiffani A. Johnston, a former cheerleader and marketing manager for the team, against Snyder.

Johnston told members of Congress earlier this month that Snyder harassed her at a team dinner, putting his hand on her thigh under the table and later trying to press her toward his limo.

Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, the attorneys representing Johnston and more than 40 former Washington employees, questioned adding a new investigator at this time.

“Beth Wilkinson conducted a long and comprehensive investigation of the Washington Commanders, and earned the trust of dozens of victims and witnesses who provided her with evidence of pervasive sexual harassment and abuse,” they said in a statement. “We understood that Ms. Wilkinson would conduct the investigation into Tiffani Johnston’s allegations about Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder, given her unique knowledge of the Commanders organization, its culture of sexual harassment, and Dan Snyder’s credibility.

“Having a new investigator, with no such prior knowledge, assess Ms. Johnston’s allegations and Mr. Snyder’s denials in a vacuum makes no sense at all. That said, we will discuss with Ms. Johnston her willingness to participate, and are pleased that the NFL has agreed to make the results public. On behalf of our many other clients, we urge Commissioner Goodell to make the same decision with respect to Ms. Wilkinson’s investigation. Certainly the results of that comprehensive investigation would provide an important blueprint for the new investigator to conduct her work.”

The Commanders released a statement on Friday saying they were “pleased that the NFL” appointed White to conduct the investigation and that the team will not be launching its own.

“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,” the statement read. “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 cooperate fully with Ms. White.”

(Picture: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

[ad_2]