Daniel Snyder, Roger Goodell requested to appear at congressional hearing

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The House Committee on Oversight and Reform requested Wednesday that Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell appear at a hearing scheduled for June 22 as part of the committee’s investigation of the team’s workplace.

“Since we launched our investigation in October, the Committee’s goal has been to uncover the truth about the culture of harassment and abuse at the Washington Commanders, to hold accountable those responsible, and to better protect workers across the country,” Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.), the committee’s chairwoman, said in a statement. “The Committee has worked tirelessly to obtain critical information, including the findings of the internal investigation conducted by attorney Beth Wilkinson, only to be met with obstruction from the Commanders and the NFL at every turn.”

The committee said it made its request in letters to Goodell and Snyder. The NFL said it would respond to the request but did not specify whether Goodell will appear at the hearing.

“We received the Committee’s invitation this morning and will respond directly in a timely manner,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement. “The NFL has cooperated extensively throughout the Committee’s lengthy investigation of the Washington Commanders, including by producing more than 460,000 pages of documents and responding to numerous questions in writing and in conversations with the Committee’s staff.”

The Commanders did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“We must have transparency and accountability, which is why we are calling on Mr. Goodell and Mr. Snyder to answer the questions they have dodged for the last seven months,” Maloney said in her statement. “The hearing will explore how Congress can act to prevent employers from silencing victims of workplace misconduct and ensure that what happened at the Commanders organization does not happen again.”

The committee has been investigating the team’s workplace culture and the NFL’s handling of allegations of pervasive sexual misconduct at the franchise. The committee’s probe also uncovered accusations of financial improprieties involving the team and Snyder.

“For seven months, the Committee has been stonewalled by NDAs and other tools to evade accountability,” Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), chairman of the subcommittee on economic and consumer policy, said in a statement. “Mr. Snyder and Mr. Goodell need to appear before the Committee to address these issues and answer our questions about the pervasive workplace misconduct at the Washington Commanders, and how the NFL addressed these issues.”

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A spokesman for Republicans on the committee referred to the “Democrats’ sham investigation” of the Commanders as “a misuse” of the committee’s oversight authority.

“From the beginning, Committee Democrats have used taxpayer-funded resources to push a one-sided investigation into a private company with no connection to the federal government,” Republican spokesman Austin Hacker said in a statement. “There is nothing Congress can do to remedy any of the specific allegations made. If Congress can’t provide a solution, why are Democrats wasting valuable resources and scheduling a hearing? This entire charade appears to be an attempt to gain cheap headlines, not solutions.”

The move to call a hearing was praised by the attorneys who represent more than 40 former team employees.

“We are pleased the House Oversight Committee has invited Dan Snyder and Roger Goodell to testify in front of the Committee,” attorneys Lisa Banks and Debra Katz said in a statement. “We hope they will demonstrate the same courage as our clients and agree to testify. Dan Snyder and Roger Goodell have a lot to answer for.”

Tiffani Johnston, a former cheerleader and marketing manager for the…