Mark Schwarz reports on Congress members seeking additional information about the NFL’s investigation into Washington Football Team's workplace culture. (2:02).
NEW YORK -- Two former employees of Washington Football Team arrived at the Intercontinental New York Barclay hotel, midtown Manhattan, with a stack containing multiple pages of letters asking for the public release of their report on workplace misconduct.
The letter was addressed to the members of the league’s social justice committee -- Gayle Benjamin of New Orleans Saints; Michael Bidwill from the Arizona Cardinals; Arthur Blank of Atlanta Falcons; Jimmy Haslam of Cleveland Browns; Shahid Khan of Jacksonville Jaguars -- and urged the NFL "to make public the findings of an investigation into the Washington Football Team."
Your working group was created to address issues related to racial justice within the league. However, you have the power to seek justice for hundreds of women, men and children, like us, who courageously shared stories about harassment and abuse they suffered while employed by the WFT. It is unacceptable for the NFL to allow employees to report to investigators at great personal risk and then sweep them under the carpet.
The league declined to comment and said that Roger Goodell, commissioner of the league, would speak with the media during the meetings.
"There are many employees who are still afraid and intimidated and threatened, and they are coming forward," stated Melanie Coburn (ex-WFT cheerleader and marketer), later adding that she was shocked that the report hadn't been made publicly.
Coburn stated, "We deserve to hear,"
Ana Nunez and Coburn, both former sales associates at WFT, handed the letters to the front desk. They were assured that the letters would be delivered personally to each team owner.
Sports Illustrated reported earlier in the day that although the Washington Football Team investigation was not on the official agenda, it could be brought up in owners-only sessions.
Contrary to other high-profile NFL investigations like Bountygate or Deflategate there was no written report from Beth Wilkinson, an independent investigator, on harassment and cultural problems inside the Washington Football Team. Instead, a series oral reports were provided.
Two House Democrats wrote to Goodell last week requesting that the league give Congress the results of the investigation. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D. New York), and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, (D.Illinois), sent a letter to Goodell requesting that the league turn over many documents and answer many questions regarding the investigation by November 4.
This letter was sent two weeks after the leak of emails that led to Jon Gruden's resignation as Las Vegas Raiders coach. Bruce Allen, then-WFT president, received his emails from Gruden, who was working as an analyst for Monday Night Football for seven years. They contained racist, anti-gay, and misogynistic messages. The NFL Players Association demanded that the NFL release 650,000 emails gathered in the NFL investigation.
After the investigation was concluded, Washington was fined $10,000,000 on July 1. Tanya Snyder, Snyder's co-CEO, took over the daily operations, while Dan Snyder concentrated on building a new stadium.
This report was contributed by John Keim, ESPN.
