Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder offered July 28 and 29 as dates that he would be able to testify before the House Oversight Committee via video conference, ESPN reported Thursday.
Snyder’s attorney, Karen Patton Seymour, told committee chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-New York) in a letter that she offered the two dates in late July after the committee originally proposed July 6 or 8. Seymour claimed that she had not heard from Maloney since June 30.
The committee is investigating allegations about the Commanders’ workplace culture. Media reports have detailed allegations of sexual misconduct from 15 female ex-employees, including multiple accusations of sexual harassment against Snyder in particular. While those women have spoken out publicly, at least 50 ex-employees reportedly have complained about the workplace culture.
A spokesperson for the committee said in a statement late last month that Snyder had “so far refused to accept service of the Committee’s subpoena” and it would not “tolerate attempts to evade service of a duly authorized subpoena or seek special treatment” on the matter.
Snyder’s camp pushed back, saying he was not refusing to appear for a deposition.
The Washington owner has said he has been out of the country on business on the dates the House committee has proposed. Seymour also said in Thursday’s letter that Snyder planned to spend “much of July” and “into August” in Israel while observing the one-year anniversary of the death of his mother.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell testified before the committee remotely in June.
Snyder is at the center of multiple controversies. In addition to the House committee inquiry, the Virginia attorney general said in April that he was launching an investigation into allegations regarding the team’s business practices.
Oversight and Reform obtained evidence that Snyder had team executives illegally withhold refundable security deposits from ticket holders and kept two sets of books to hide revenue from the NFL in order to contribute less to the revenue-sharing pool.
In May 1999, NFL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Washington franchise and the old Jack Kent Cooke Stadium to a group headed by Snyder, who then was 34. The group paid $800 million, which at the time was a record purchase price for a U.S. sports franchise.
–Field Level Media