Roger Goodell gives telling update on Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder

Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder was not at the annual meeting between NFL owners, according to league commissioner Roger Goodell. Instead, Snyder’s wife Tanya has represented the team over the past two days.

Goodell said he expects Tanya Snyder to continue acting in place of her husband for the foreseeable future.

“(Dan Snyder) has not been involved in day to day operations,” Goodell said. (I) don’t believe he’s been at the team facility at all.”

The NFL is currently investigating Snyder after former team cheerleader and marketing manager Tiffani Johnston accused him of sexual harassment and misconduct. Johnston recalled having to fend off Snyder’s advances during and after a work dinner years ago, saying Snyder placed his hand on her thigh under the table and later tried to force her into his limousine.

Although Snyder denied Johnston’s claims, former team executive Jason Friedman, who attended the dinner, later corroborated them in a letter to the congressional committee.

This came after the Commanders organization had already been fined $10 million for a completely separate investigation done by attorney Beth Wilkerson. In that probe, Wilkerson concluded that numerous female employees experienced sexual harassment as well as bullying and intimidation in the Washington workplace. The NFL took no action against Snyder personally.

Johnston was one of five women who shared their experiences with Snyder in front of Congress, but the only one who didn’t talk during the initial investigation. She said she was afraid to cooperate out of fear of retaliation by the team owner.

Former chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission is leading the NFL’s second investigation into the Commanders and Dan Snyder, prompting Roger Goodell to again address the issue. The commissioner was clear in saying only the league would be looking into the matter, and Washington released a statement shortly after.

“The Washington Commanders are pleased that the NFL has appointed Mary Jo White to look into the recent allegations made by Tiffani Johnston,” the statement read. “The Commanders have always been intent on having a full and fair investigation of this matter conducted and to releasing the results of that investigation. Given the Team’s confidence in Ms. White’s ability to conduct such a full and fair investigation, the Commanders will not separately pursue an investigation and will cooperate fully with Ms. White.”

A month later, the league is still awaiting the results of the investigation. Until then, it sounds like Dan Snyder won’t be out much.