NFL fines Washington $10M after investigation into team's culture

The NFL is fining the Washington Football Team $10 million after conducting a workplace review of the club, the league announced Thursday.

The money will be donated to organizations that support character education, anti-bullying, healthy relationships, and other related topics.

Additionally, Washington owner Dan Snyder's wife and co-CEO, Tanya, will assume the club's day-to-day operations for "at least the next several months."

In July 2020, Washington hired attorney Beth Wilkinson to investigate its culture after 15 former female employees reported sexual harassment and/or verbal abuse from club executives. Additional ex-employees accused Snyder and other former members of the organization of sexual harassment and misconduct in August 2020.

The NFL began overseeing Wilkinson's investigation, per Snyder's request, later that month.

"Based on Wilkinson's review, (commissioner Roger Goodell) concluded that, for many years, the workplace environment at the Washington Football Team, both generally and particularly for women, was highly unprofessional," the NFL said in a statement.

"Bullying and intimidation frequently took place, and many described the culture as one of fear. Numerous female employees reported having experienced sexual harassment and a general lack of respect in the workplace."

Wilkinson interviewed more than 150 people during her review, including Snyder twice. She made 10 recommendations for the club, including protocols for reporting harassment and protecting the cheerleading team. Dan and Tanya are required to implement each measure.

"I feel great remorse for the people who had difficult, even traumatic, experiences while working here," Snyder said in a statement. "I'm truly sorry for that.

"I can't turn back the clock, but I promise that nobody who works here will ever have that kind of experience again, at least not as long as Tanya and I are the owners of this team."

Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, the two attorneys representing 40 former Washington employees, called the NFL's investigation and punishment "outrageous," saying the league protected Snyder, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

They said: "(By) ignoring our requests (to) make the report prepared by Beth Wilkinson public, the NFL has chosen instead to receive only an oral report of the findings and to fine Dan Snyder what amounts to pocket change.

"This is truly outrageous, and is a slap in the face of the hundreds of women and former employees who came forward in good faith and at great personal risk to report a culture of abuse at all levels of the team, including by Snyder himself."

The NFL also vowed to develop "comprehensive and mandatory training" leaguewide to combat bullying, harassment, and discrimination.