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A lawyer for Dan Snyder told a congressional committee that the embattled Washington Commanders owner has a “long-standing Commanders-related business conflict” and would be out of the country for next week’s hearing.
The House Oversight Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney detailed that conflict in a letter on Friday: Snyder will be at an awards ceremony in France.
“Mr. Snyder has not identified any scheduling challenges that would prevent him from testifying before the Committee while out of the country,” Maloney wrote in a letter to Snyder and his legal team. “Nor has Mr. Snyder asserted that he is unable to return to the United States prior to the hearing, should he prefer to testify in person.”
A source with knowledge of Snyder’s whereabouts told Front Office Sports that Snyder recently left for France, a top vacation spot for the owner as it’s typically where he makes use of his 305-foot yacht.
The yacht is currently about a half mile south of Cannes.
Snyder was given the opportunity to attend the hearing remotely, an option taken by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Wednesday’s hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET.
The Oversight Committee offered to make “additional accommodations” in order to get Snyder to testify, which include turning over “copies of documents that members of the Committee intend to question Mr. Snyder about.” But Snyder must had to agree to testify by Monday morning in order to receive the information.
Snyder’s legal team told the committee before the deadline that he still won’t appear.
“As the Chairwoman’s letter made clear, the committee has been more than accommodating—even allowing Mr. Snyder to testify remotely from France,” a House Oversight Committee spokesperson said in a statement to FOS. “His refusal to testify sends an unmistakable signal that Mr. Snyder has something to hide and is afraid of coming clean to the American public and addressing major worker protection concerns facing the NFL. The Committee will not be deterred in its investigation to uncover the truth of workplace misconduct at the Washington Commanders.”
Snyder’s yacht — which he paid about $180 million for in 2019 — has internet capabilities that would allow for Snyder to testify via Zoom, potentially even using the boat’s IMAX theater.
The letter didn’t threaten to subpoena Snyder, an option the Oversight Committee has at its disposal.
Earlier this month, the Oversight Committee requested Goodell and Snyder’s presence at the hearing that “will address the Washington Commanders’ toxic workplace culture and the National Football League’s (NFL) handling of that matter.”
Editors note: This story was originally published on June 17.
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