D.C.’s attorney general says he’ll make a “major announcement” at 1 p.m. Thursday regarding the Washington Commanders.
The news came in a statement from Karl Racine’s office, which was sent out late Wednesday morning. There were no additional details.
Back in April, Racine’s office told WTOP that since last fall, it has been investigating allegations involving sexual harassment, workplace misconduct and improper ticket sale practices.
“The disturbing details of misconduct by the Washington Commanders and [owner] Dan Snyder that we’ve seen in extensive public reporting are deeply troubling,” Racine said in that statement. “No one should face mistreatment at work and no organization can evade the law.”
The investigation by Racine’s office was launched around the time the U.S. House Committee for Oversight and Reform referred its case to the Federal Trade Commission for potential financial improprieties. The team is the subject of multiple ongoing investigations, from the attorneys general of D.C. and Virginia to Congress and the league.
Dan Snyder became sole owner of the team in April 2021. But last week, the Snyders hired Bank of America Securities to “consider potential transactions” involving the team.
In response Racine’s announcement, a Commanders spokesperson said that for nearly a year, the team “has fully cooperated with the AG’s investigation.” The statement also questions the timing of the announcement, adding that D.C. should focus more on violent crime, such as the shooting of running back Brian Robinson.
“Less than three months ago, a 23-year-old player on our team was shot multiple times, in broad daylight,” the statement said. “Despite the out-of-control violent crime in DC, today the Washington Commanders learned for the first time on Twitter that the D.C. Attorney General will be holding a press conference to ‘make a major announcement’ related to the organization tomorrow.”
The spokesperson added that a team lawyer met with Racine as recently as Monday and that there was no suggestion that the attorney general would take any action against the Commanders but “in fact, revealed fundamental misunderstandings of the underlying facts.”
“It is unfortunate that, in his final days in office, Mr. Racine appears more interested in making splashy headlines, based on offbeat legal theories, rather than doing the hard work of making the streets safe for our citizens, including bringing to justice the people who shot one of our players.”
The use of Robinson’s shooting in the statement drew negative responses on social media, including from Ryan Williams, Robinson’s agent, who condemned the team’s response to Racine’s announcement.
Up until an hour ago, the Commanders handled the Brian Robinson situation with so much care, sincerity and class. And I was so grateful for all of it.
Although I know that there are some great humans in that building, whoever is hiding behind this statement is not one of them. https://t.co/cnD0DtUfqm
— Ryan Williams (@RyanWilliamsA1) November 10, 2022
The rookie was shot twice in the leg in what police described as an attempted carjacking in Northeast D.C. on Aug. 28. Two teenagers have been arrested in the shooting and charged. Police are looking for one more person of interest.
Team President Jason Wright released a statement late Wednesday night, clarifying the Commanders’ position while apologizing for the use of Robinson’s shooting in the spokesperson’s original release.
“The earlier statement expressed our external council’s ongoing frustration with the Attorney General’s office, as they have been nothing but earnest and transparent in their communications with the team,” Wright said. “The lawyer’s legitimate frustrations with the AG should have been separate and apart from referencing the terrible crime that affects our player.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
