Maryland congressman calls for DOJ investigation into Dan Snyder

WASHINGTON - Former owner Dan Snyder might be done with the Washington Commanders, but Washington might not be done with him just yet. 

Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee is calling for the Department of Justice to launch an investigation to determine if Snyder lied in his testimony to Congress during a probe into the team’s workplace culture.

Snyder testified in front of the committee for 11 hours in the summer of 2022 as the congressional panel sought answers after former Commanders cheerleader and marketing employee Tiffani Johnston alleged that Snyder had made unwanted sexual advances toward her. 

During that investigation, former Commanders’ employee Jason Friedman also accused Snyder of serious "financial improprieties," saying that team leadership had "repeatedly and deliberately" omitted ticket sales revenue from reports sent to the league, illegally kept customers’ security deposits put down for multi-year club and suite seats and failed to report the money made by holding these security deposits to the league. 

Friedman's testimony prompted the committee to recommend the Federal Trade Commission look into the team engaging in potentially unlawful financial conduct. He also corroborated Johnston’s claims of harassment, saying he witnessed Snyder physically try to get her to join him in his car following a work-related dinner.

Throughout his testimony, Snyder vehemently denied any wrongdoing, calling the accusations "outright lies." 

Raskin cites these denials in his letter as contradictory to the findings of the NFL’s independent review by former U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White, which ultimately substantiated the claims of sexual and financial misconduct against Snyder. 

According to excerpts of Snyder's deposition, which was not made in a public hearing, he said it "didn't happen" and was "just not true." White's investigation sustained Johnston's allegations, calling them credible and corroborated by other witnesses and evidence.

"Making false statements to Congress and obstructing congressional investigations are serious crimes," Raskin wrote in the letter. "This Committee cannot conduct effective oversight if witnesses misrepresent and obscure the truth."

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 19: U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) delivers remarks during the last meeting of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol in the Canon House Office Building on Capitol Hill on December

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Megan Imbert, a former team employee tells FOX 5 she thinks the DOJ should investigate. 

"The fact is they had Dan Snyder for so long asking questions, and if he was falsifying statements or somehow impacted their investigation it’s Congress’s duty to move forward and frankly, hopefully, the DOJ picks up on this and pursues it to the furthest extent," Imbert said. 

After the findings of the investigation were release, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell slapped Snyder with a $60 million fine just as the sale of the team to Josh Harris was completed for a record $6.05 billion.

"The findings do speak for themselves. You know in both cases, particularly with Ms. Johnson it was inappropriate and it was wrong and it does not match our values," Goodell said. 

It is unlikely though that Raskin’s referral would move forward. The investigation into Snyder was launched by the then-Democratic majority. 

Comer was highly critical of the investigation at the time and after Republicans won control of the House in November and put Comer in charge, he and his colleagues ended the investigation into Snyder. 

The Associated Press now reports that a spokesperson ripped Raskin’s recent sentiment in an email, saying Democrats were overly concerned with using committee resources to target a private workplace. 

"Ranking Member Raskin is obsessed with an investigation that has no connection whatsoever to the federal government," the spokesperson said in an email to The Associated Press. "The Oversight Committee is going to continue to prioritize the American people by ensuring our federal government is efficient, accountable and transparent."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.