Last year, the NFL team owner was fined 10 million yuan and charged with sexual harassment

The former cheerleader of the Washington Commanders from the National Football League (NFL) accused boss Dan Snyder of sexually harassing him on Capitol Hill on the 3rd.

Snyder with his wife Tanya. (Image source: Associated Press profile photo)

CNN reported that at a roundtable session of the House Oversight Committee, Tiffani Johnston, a former cheerleader and marketing and events coordinator for the Washington Commanders, accused boss Snyder of putting his hand on her lap at a dinner party and then grabbing her by the arm and pulling her into his limousine.

A former video production manager said that at Snyder's behest, he was asked to make a pornographic video of nude photos taken without the cheerleaders' knowledge.

The Washington Post first reported in detail on the allegations against Snyder in 2020. The team paid $1.6 million to a former employee in 2009 to settle its misconduct allegations against Snyder.

Melanie Coburn, the team's former director of marketing, also said at the meeting that several former female employees said that over the years, Snyder had created a toxic environment of abuse and sexual harassment, and said that "Dan Snyder ruled with threats."

Snyder issued a statement on the 3rd in response to these allegations. He said: "Although the team has had some unacceptable behavior in the past, the allegations against me personally at today's roundtable are outright lies. I unequivocally deny that such acts have been done against anyone at any time. ”

Snyder said: "Tanya and I will not be distracted by those who are 'going against the tone'. We will continue to advance the personnel and cultural changes that have yielded positive results over the past 18 months, and will continue to make changes on and off the field. Tanya, who is reportedly Snyder's wife, was named co-CEO of the team last year.

However, lawyers Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, who represent 6 witnesses and more than 40 former employees, said in a statement on the 3rd that the testimony of all witnesses is "an important first step in making washington football teams and workplaces across the country take responsibility for abusing female employees." ”

The statement added: "Today's roundtable conveys the message that Whether Parliament will tolerate ... One of the nation's best-known workplaces attempts to evade responsibility. ”

In 2020, the NFL conducted a year-long survey of the team's working environment. It was concluded that Snyder was responsible for the team's unprofessional and threatening workplace culture, and that he failed to establish a work environment that respected others. Last July, Snyder was fined $10 million.

At the time, Snyder said in a statement that the team's workplace culture "didn't become what it should be" and said he was "very remorseful for those who have experienced difficulties and even traumas during their work." ”

However, the NFL did not release the full results of the investigation, which some plaintiffs accused of "lack of transparency and concealment of facts." At the same time, Banks and Katz once again called on the NFL to release a full report in a statement on the 3rd. (End)