The NFL has repeatedly promised to disclose the outcome of attorney Mary Jo White’s investigation into the Washington Commanders. On Friday, a congressman urged the NFL to live up to its promise.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) sent a two-page letter on the subject to Commissioner Roger Goodell via the Washington Post.
Raskin said he was “encouraged” by the “stated commitment to full transparency” and expected the league to deliver on its promise.
“I’m writing with the National Football League in mind. . . “Investigating allegations of sexual misconduct and financial misconduct against Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder,” Raskin wrote, according to the Post. “More than a year has passed since you agreed to ‘share the results of this investigation’, but to date no part of the information has been released to the public. With the impending sale of the Commanders franchise, I urge you to honor your obligation to release the report in full and “take additional disciplinary action as necessary.”
Goodell has repeatedly stated that the report will be made public – unlike attorney Beth Wilkinson’s report, which was released to the public on July 1, 2021 with a cursory summary.
“As you have already noted, one of the most recognizable platforms in America keeps the NFL at a higher level, and rightly so,” Raskin wrote to Goodell. “You now have the opportunity to show the American people – and especially the victims of the toxic workplace of commanders – that you will hold yourself to that higher standard by ensuring transparency and accountability by releasing Ms. White’s full report and…” Taking additional action consistent with the findings of the report.”
There’s no reason to believe the NFL won’t release the report. There is reason enough to wonder whether White’s report will come to very different conclusions if Snyder sells the team than it would have if Snyder had been adamant and refused to sell the team.
Yes, some would say it’s a conspiracy theory. But White began her investigation in February 2022. Why hasn’t she completed it yet?
It’s reasonable to assume that she waited because the League (her client) wanted her to wait, with the subtle (or otherwise) insight that when Snyder finally walks away, she won’t come to the conclusions he made would have run.
Snyder has reached an agreement to sell the team to a group led by Josh Harris. The NFL plans to meet on July 20 to consider approving the deal.
Once the sale is approved, we expect the league to release a sanitized and whitewashed report from White that finds no conclusive evidence to support the allegations against the team and Snyder.