• Loading stock data...
Friday, August 1, 2025
Tuned In returns to NYC on September 16. Hear from the biggest names in sports media. Click here to get your spot

Commanders Investigation Reveals ‘Troubling’ Financial Inconsistencies

  • House Oversight Committee shared details of its investigation with the Federal Trade Commission.
  • A 20-page letter was sent to the FTC by the committee on Tuesday.
Commanders Tickets
Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports

A congressional investigation of the Washington Commanders identified “troubling, long-running, and potentially unlawful pattern of financial conduct” and passed those details along to the Federal Trade Commission. 

The House Oversight Committee laid out the allegations against the Commanders and owner Dan Snyder in a 20-page letter to the FTC on Tuesday.

“This new information on potential financial misconduct suggests that the rot under Dan Snyder’s leadership is much deeper than imagined. It further reinforces the concern that this organization has been allowed to operate with impunity for far too long,” Carolyn Maloney, chair of the Oversight Committee, said in a statement.

“This new information suggests that in addition to fostering a hostile workplace culture, Mr. Snyder also may have cheated the team’s fans and the NFL. While the focus of our investigation remains the Commanders’ toxic work environment, I hope the FTC will review this troubling financial conduct and determine whether further action is necessary. We must have accountability.”

A Commanders spokesperson pointed to a prior statement from the team where it denied allegations of holding back ticket revenue.

“We continue to cooperate with the Oversight Committee and have provided more than 210,000 pages of documents,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy in a statement to FOS. “The NFL has engaged former SEC chair Mary Jo White to review the serious matters raised by the committee.”

White was tapped to investigate the latest harassment claims made against the Commanders and Snyder. Snyder has denied the allegations.

At least one person with knowledge of the Commanders’ finances was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday, a source told Front Office Sports. FOS first reported that subpoenas were likely on March 31.

The consequences of the Commanders potentially withholding revenue not only impacts the league’s 31 other teams financially. While 40% of net ticket revenue is required to be dispersed among teams, ticket revenue is also factored into the salary cap each year.

“The owners are not going to be happy with a partner who cheats them out of some money,” said Jodi S. Balsam, a professor at the Brooklyn Law School who worked as a lawyer for the NFL for nearly two decades. “The big exposure for the owners is that they could be subject of an unfair labor practices charge.”

That would start with NFL Players Association filing a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, although there’s no indication the union has made such a decision yet.

Jason Friedman, an employee at the Commanders’ ticket office for 24 years, provided much of the information to the committee used in the letter, including spreadsheets and emails.

The allegations include: 

  • The Commanders “created artificial barriers to discourage customers from requesting” refundable deposits due to them. Friedman provided documents that showed as of July 2016 the Commanders still held about $5 million in unreturned deposits from around 2,000 accounts. 
  • Those unclaimed deposits were some of the alleged improprieties referred to internally “the juice,” the term given for revenue that wasn’t reported to the NFL and, in turn, not shared in violation of NFL bylaws. 
  • The team “repeatedly concealed ticket sales revenue that should have been shared with the NFL” allegations backed up by documents and information provided by Friedman. 
  • Team executives “intentionally” underreported ticket revenue in its database by “falsely processing or misassigning” ticket revenue from Commanders games as fees related to other events at FedEx Field, including a Kenny Chesney concert.

The Oversight Committee mentioned Snyder multiple times and alleged that Snyder had knowledge of the questionable accounting practices.

The letter stated that an unnamed former executive interviewed by the committee told investigators the team kept “two sets of books” — something FOS first reported on March 31. One set was “shown to Mr. Snyder” and accurate accounting of revenue that was “shown to Mr. Snyder.”

“The primary mission of the Oversight and Reform Committee is to root out waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in the federal government,” a Republican Oversight Committee spokesperson said in a statement. “Democrats instead are using all of their resources to publicly attack a private company with no connection to the federal government. Even worse, Democrats are attacking a private company using the claims of a disgruntled ex-employee who had limited access to the team’s finances.

“Committee Republicans will be providing the FTC with additional context to ensure that they have the full story when evaluating the Democrats’ latest letter and not just one-sided, cherry-picked information.”

FOS reported previously that the House Oversight Committee’s investigation that began in October as a probe into hostile workplace allegations expanded into alleged financial irregularities and allegations that the Commanders failed to pass along ticket revenue to the league. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Mayor Calls Commanders RFK Stadium Deal ‘a BFD’ for D.C.’s Future

The NFL team makes a series of additional commitments.
Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) passes the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field.

$3.8B Commanders Stadium On Track for D.C. Approval

D.C. continues two days of public hearings on a proposed Commanders stadium.
Las Vegas sign

College Sports Embracing Vegas After Years of Cold Shoulder

The Big Ten became the latest newcomer to Sin City.
2000, Jupiter, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Montreal Expos pitcher Hideki Irabu in action on the mound against the New York Mets at Roger Dean Stadium during Spring Training

Dead Sports Franchises Are Alive and Well on Twitter

The Expos, Sonics, and Whalers have active social media accounts.

Featured Today

Limited Hype

Sneaker Reselling Was Once Easy Money. Success Is Now Complicated

Vendors need to evolve what they’re selling and how they do it.
HAPPY GILMORE 2. BTS - (L to R) Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore and Rory McIlroy as himself on the set of Happy Gilmore2.
July 26, 2025

‘Cool As Hell’: How ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Hooked Golf’s Top Stars

The process was “cool as hell,” Adam Sandler tells FOS.
Ryan Field Construction
exclusive
July 19, 2025

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.
July 17, 2025

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
July 29, 2025

Wrexham’s Ambition Replaces Fan Favorites With Pricey Additions

Wrexham has already added six new players.
July 30, 2025

Trey Hendrickson Ends $450K Holdout Without New Bengals Deal

The defensive end is seeking a raise on his $16 million 2025 salary.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 29, 2025

Mario Lemieux Trying to Reacquire Penguins 4 Years After Selling

The former NHL great looks to return to team ownership.
Jun 10, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Indiana Fever injured guard Caitlin Clark (22) follows the action from the bench against the Atlanta Dream during the second half at Gateway Center Arena at College Park.
July 24, 2025

Caitlin Clark’s Injury Not Worse, but Status for Chicago, Dallas Unclear

Clark has been out since suffering a groin injury on July 15.
Jul 9, 2025; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles (31) hugs guard Leila Lacan (47) after a play against the Seattle Storm in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena.
July 24, 2025

Sun Will Play in Connecticut Next Year Amid Relocation Rumors

The team told season-ticket holders they’ll stay for 2026.
July 23, 2025

Packers Hit Record $719M in Revenue, Riding NFL’s Growth Wave

The NFL team’s annual revenue and operating profit both grow strongly.