Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder won’t testify under subpoena

Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder’s attorney rejected the House Oversight committee’s reasoning for wanting him to testify under a subpoena later this month, reiterating that he would do so voluntarily.

In a letter, attorney Karen Patton Seymour called the committee’s concerns that her client would withhold information if not testifying under a subpoena “baseless.”

On Tuesday, Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) accepted Snyder’s offer to testify July 28 via videoconference, but said in a letter to Seymour that the committee would issue a subpoena and wanted a response from Snyder by noon today.

Though the subpoena was issued, it was not served to Snyder, who is still overseas, multiple sources said. U.S. marshals serve subpoenas on behalf of the committee in the United States but, according a spokesperson, the Marshals Service “has no authority to serve a Congressional subpoena internationally.”

Seymour could accept the subpoena on Snyder’s behalf but has not done so.

In October, Congress started investigating Snyder and Washington’s workplace culture under his ownership, including claims of sexual misconduct. Approximately four months prior, the NFL concluded an investigation and fined Washington $10 million. Congress opened its investigation after complaints about a lack of transparency by the NFL into what was learned. Attorney Beth Wilkinson delivered her report orally, leading to the initial fine.

There’s a difference between whether someone testifies voluntarily or under a subpoena, according to Dave Rapallo, Georgetown University’s Federal Legislation Clinic director and the Democratic staff director of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform from 2011 to 2021.

“If you’re under subpoena, you have to answer the question posed,” Rapallo said. “If it’s voluntary, and you’re not under subpoena, you don’t.”

The committee’s concern surrounded nondisclosure agreements as well. Maloney wrote that “you have made clear to Committee staff…