NFL to independently investigate new misconduct allegations within Commanders
Content warning: This story contains instances of alleged sexual misconduct.
The NFL will independently investigate new allegations of misconduct against the Washington Commanders and owner Dan Snyder. The organization is under fire again after multiple women came forward to detail new instances of alleged misconduct, one of which allegedly involved Snyder.
There was confusion early Wednesday after the Commanders announced they hired three lawyers to look into the new allegations. Debra Yang of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher will lead that investigation. Attorneys Bonnie Jonas and Tiffany Moller of Pallas Global Group will oversee it, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post.
Debra Yang is actually leading the investigation. Former Asst U.S. Attorneys Bonnie Jonas and Tiffany Moller, of Pallas Global Group, are overseeing the investigation, per a release. https://t.co/GGxju8KiML
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) February 9, 2022
The investigation performed by Yang will be made public once it is completed.
The NFL stepped in Wednesday to say it would perform its own investigation into the new allegations of misconduct in the Commanders. Commissioner Roger Goodell said the team cannot "do its own investigation of itself."
Roger Goodell, on the investigation into the recent allegations made by Tiffani Johnston against Daniel Snyder: "I do not see any way that a team can do its own investigation of itself. That's something we would do. We would do it with an outside expert."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) February 9, 2022
The NFL was reportedly blindsided after the Commanders announced their own investigation early Wednesday, according to the Washington Post. The NFL has not announced who will conduct its investigation into the new accusations.
Commanders owner Dan Snyder accused of misconduct
Various new allegations were levied against the franchise Thursday. Multiple women came forward on HBO's "Real Sports" podcast to speak about alleged harassment and misconduct that occurred when they were with the team.
A few of those women — including former cheerleader Tiffani A. Johnston — spoke to Congress that same day. On the podcast and in front of Congress, Johnston relayed a story in which Snyder allegedly strategically sat next to Johnston at a dinner event so he could touch her leg. Following the dinner, Snyder reportedly offered to drive Johnston back to her car. Snyder allegedly started pushing Johnston toward a car until Snyder's lawyer reportedly said it was a "very, very bad idea." That, Johnston said, allowed her to get away.
