Commanders to Be Investigated by Virginia AG After Alleged Financial Improprieties

According to a letter obtained by John Keim, the Washington Commanders will be investigated by the Virginia Attorney General over allegations of financial improprieties.

Keim said that the House Oversight and Reform Committee sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission on April 12 and informed the Virginia Attorney General of the alleged financial improprieties. The Washington D.C. and Maryland attorneys general were made aware of the allegations.

Karl A. Racine, a spokesman for the Washington D.C. Attorney General, said earlier this month that the office wouldn't take action against the Commanders if an investigation found they were involved.

The former vice president of sales and customer service for Commanders told the House Oversight Committee on March 14 that he was fired in October 2020 because the franchise wouldn't give season-ticket holders security deposits.

He said that Washington kept two accounting books in order to keep money that would have been sent to the revenue-sharing pool.

40 percent of ticket sales must be sent to the league by the franchise in order to distribute the money to away teams.

The Commanders denied a March 31 report that the congressional committee was investigating the franchise. They did not engage in financial improprieties.

"The team is not aware of any investigation by the House Oversight Committee regarding financial matters, despite vague and unsubstantiated claims today by anonymous sources. The team categorically denies any suggestion of financial impropriety of any kind at any time. We adhere to strict internal processes that are consistent with industry and accounting standards, are audited annually by a globally respected independent auditing firm, and are also subject to regular audits by the NFL. We continue to cooperate fully with the Committee's work."

The committee is looking into the Commanders for allegedly fostering a toxic workplace environment, including sexual harassment allegations against team owner Dan Snyder.

The NFL fined the franchise $10 million for conducting its own investigation. After a few months, he gave up day-to-day operations and his wife took over.