Former Commanders VP Jason Friedman sues team for defamation - ESPN

Jason Friedman, who testified before Congress last year alleging financial improprieties by the Washington Commanders, has filed suit in Virginia against the team and one of its attorneys, John Brownlee, on a defamation claim.

Friedman, who filed the 15-page suit in the civil division of Loudoun County District Court on July 7, asked for $7.5 million in compensatory damages and another $350,000 in punitive damages, in addition to fees incurred. He also asked for a jury trial.

The story was first reported by The Washington Post.

The news came out three days before NFL owners will gather in Minneapolis to vote on the sale of the Commanders from Dan and Tanya Snyder to a group led by Josh Harris. Owners are expected to approve the $6.05 billion sale, ending the Snyders' 24-year reign.

On March 14, 2022, Friedman testified before the House Oversight Committee for its investigation into the Commanders' work culture under Snyder. During his closed-door testimony, Friedman accused the team of financial improprieties, which led the committee to send a letter to the Federal Trade Commission about the allegations a month later.

The Commanders denied the allegations in a letter the team sent to the FTC. The letter included emails and texts from Friedman to club officials.

The lawsuit stated that «The Team responded to Mr. Friedman's allegations of financial improprieties by repeatedly and publicly calling him a liar, accusing him of committing the federal crime of perjury, and falsely implying that he was terminated as part of the Team's sexual harassment scandal that was being widely reported in the press.»

The suit also asserted that «The Team's false statements about Mr. Friedman, which it has repeated or caused to be repeated