Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder "obstructed" a congressional investigation into the football team and gave "misleading" testimony, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform said Thursday.
Driving the news: The embattled Snyder "ultimately sat for a private deposition but failed to provide full and complete testimony," the panel said in a newly released report.
- "Over the course of the deposition, he claimed more than 100 times that he could not recall the answers to the Committee’s questions, including basic inquiries about his role as Team owner and multiple allegations of misconduct."
- The report also said that the NFL and the team "did not fully comply with the Committee’s requests for documents and information" as part of the investigation.
Between the lines: The report outlined a number of findings, including that dozens of Commanders employers "were harmed by a toxic work culture for more than two decades."
- Additionally, Commanders leadership "perpetuated a toxic workplace culture by ignoring and downplaying sexual misconduct," the report says.
- The report also said that Snyder "interfered" with the panel's investigation by "intimidating witnesses and blocking the production of documents."
The other side: Jean Medina, a spokesperson for the Commanders, in response to the request for comment sent with a letter from GOP committee members dated Dec. 7.
- "The Democrats' sham investigation into the Washington Commanders has been an egregious waste of taxpayer-funded resources," the letter said.
The big picture: Snyder has been accused of creating a hostile work environment at the Commanders. He has denied the allegations.
- Snyder in July sat for a private deposition before the House panel on the Commanders' history of workplace misconduct.
- The Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Commanders owner after an investigation showed that Snyder and his lawyer launched a "shadow investigation" to influence the NFL's internal investigation into misconduct, Axios' Jacob Knutson reports.
Of note: Snyder and his wife Tanya Snyder last month announced they were exploring selling the Commanders, Axios' Cuneyt Dil reports.
- The Snyders have owned the team since 1999.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting and background.
