2.
The NFL Was Aware that Mr. Snyder Tried to Block Ms. Wilkinson’s Access to Key Information
The Committee’s investigation shows that the League was aware of Mr. Snyder’s efforts to impede Ms. Wilkinson’s investigation, including by blocking access to information related to sexual assault allegations against him. However, the League downplayed his actions.
179
The NFL received “regular updates on the progress of the investigation,” including “significant developments” from Ms. Wilkinson and her team, which almost certainly included updates on the Commanders’ efforts to obstruct the investigation. ¹ Court records in the lawsuit that Mr. Donovan filed against Ms. Wilkinson seeking to prevent her release of documents demonstrate the League’s awareness of this obstruction. In a November 2020 court filing, Ms. Wilkinson explained that her firm was “obligated to consult and coordinate with their client [redacted] before submitting a substantive evidentiary response to Donovan’s filing,” suggesting that she kept the NFL apprised of the lawsuit. ¹80 Lisa Friel, the NFL’s Senior Vice President and Special Counsel for Investigations, even filed an affidavit in that case, detailing efforts by Mr. Snyder’s lawyers to silence the employee who had accused Mr. Snyder of sexual assault and to prevent the release of this employee from her NDA.
181
Ms. Wilkinson also met with the NFL during key moments in the Commanders’ efforts to block access to key information. For example, she met with Ms. Friel on October 20, 2020 and on October 26, 2020-the first meeting occurring the day after Ms. Wilkinson received a letter from Mr. Donovan’s lawyer refusing to allow Mr. Donovan to be interviewed, and the second meeting on the same day the Reed Smith law firm informed Ms. Wilkinson that Mr. Snyder’s accuser would not be released from her confidentiality obligations. 182
179 Committee on Oversight and Reform, Deposition of Bruce Allen (Sept. 6, 2022) (online at https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight house.gov/files/2022-09
06%20Deposition%20of%20Bruce%20Allen_Redacted.pdf); Letter from Rob Kelner, Covington & Burling LLP, on behalf of the National Football League, to Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Chairman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy (Nov. 4, 2021) (online at https://oversight house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight house.gov/files/3.%202022-02-04%20
%20Kelner%20NFL%20Nov.%204%20Letter_Redacted.pdf).
180 Beth Wilkinson’s Prehearing Memorandum, Doc. 240, (Nov. 11, 2020), Donovan v. Wilkinson, E.D. Va (No. 1:20-cv-01344-AJT-IDD).
181 Opposition to Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Doc. 245, (Nov. 20, 2020), Donovan v. Wilkinson, E.D. Va (No. 1:20-cv-01344-AJT-IDD); Declaration of Lisa Friel, Doc. 248, (Nov. 20, 2020), Donovan v. Wilkinson, E.D. Va (No. 1:20-cv-01344-AJT-IDD); Sources: Commanders Boss Snyder Claims ‘Dirt’ on NFL Owners, Goodell (Oct. 13, 2022) (online at www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34778123/washington-commandersowner-dan-snyder-claims-dirt-nfl-owners-roger-goodell); Daniel Snyder Pledged Support for the NFL’s Investigation. His Actions Tell a Different Story, Washington Post (Dec. 14, 2021) (online at www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/12/14/daniel-snyder-nfl-investigation/); Declaration of Beth A. Wilkinson, Doc. 246, (Nov. 20, 2020), Donovan v. Wilkinson, E.D. Va (No. 1:20-cv-01344-AJT-IDD).
182 See Email from Simone Ross, Covington & Burling LLP, on behalf of the National Football League, to Majority Staff, Committee on Oversight and Reform (Feb. 25, 2022) (confirming dates that the NFL received updates from the Wilkinson firm); Declaration of Beth A. Wilkinson, Doc. 246, (Nov. 20, 2020), Donovan v. Wilkinson, E.D. Va (No. 1:20-cv-01344-AJT-IDD); Declaration of David P. Donovan in Support of David Donovan’s Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction, Doc. 233, (Nov. 8, 2020), Donovan v. Wilkinson, E.D. Va (No. 1:20-cv-01344-AJT-IDD).
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