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“Mr. Snyder has so far refused to serve the committee’s subpoena,” a committee spokesman said in a statement Monday. “While the committee has been, and remains, willing to make reasonable accommodations requested of witnesses, we will not Tolerate attempts to evade service of a duly authorized subpoena or to seek special treatment not afforded to other witnesses who have testified in the matter.”
A person close to Snyder said his attorney began contacting the committee on Friday. The committee had asked his attorney, Karen Patton Seymour, if she could accept service of the subpoena, but she declined because she is out of the country. The sides discussed matters beyond the subpoena Monday, including additional concerns, but no resolution was reached on the delivery of the document.
“Mr. Snyder has not declined to appear for testimony,” a spokesman for Snyder said in a statement. “The committee has offered only one date – June 30 – and Mr. Snyder’s attorney is out of the country and on that date Day not available. Mr. Snyder’s attorney has provided the committee with alternative dates and looks forward to finding a path for Mr. Snyder’s continued cooperation and addressing any remaining due process concerns.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell testified remotely at the hearing last week. Snyder declined to testify, even after being urged by Maloney to reconsider. His attorney cited issues of fairness and due process and a schedule conflict related to a business obligation for Snyder overseas.
Maloney dismissed the reasons Snyder gave for his refusal to testify. “Mr. Snyder has not been held accountable,” she said during the hearing. “His refusal to testify sends a clear message that he cares more about protecting himself than dealing with the American people.”
Goodell said during the hearing that he has “no responsibility” for Snyder’s decision regarding the testimony.
“That’s not my choice,” Goodell told the committee in response to Maloney’s questioning. “It’s his choice.”
The committee concluded in an investigation that Snyder and members of his legal team conducted a “shadow investigation” and compiled a “dossier” targeting former team members, their attorneys and journalists in order to discredit his accusers and trace the blame Shift allegations of widespread misconduct into the team’s workplace.
Republicans on the committee have expressed contempt for the Democrat-led probe into Snyder, the Commanders and the NFL. During a sharp exchange of words with Maloney during Wednesday’s hearing, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said, “What is the purpose of this hearing?”
Congress could despise Snyder if he refuses to comply with the subpoena.
Snyder could try to bid the Democrats time if he can resist testimony long enough and Republicans take control of the House — and thus the committee — in January, based on the results of November’s midterm elections.
“When Republicans retake the House of Representatives in January, the Oversight Republicans have no intention of pursuing an investigation into the Washington Commanders and will return the committee to its primary mission of rooting out waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government,” Austin Hacker said. a spokesman for the Republican Committee said in a statement last week.
