Washington Commanders Owner Accused Of Sexual Harassment By Former Team Cheerleader

Washington owner Dan Snyder has been accused of sexual harassment by a former employee, who claims he kept putting his hand on her thigh during a dinner before later aggressively pushing her to enter his limousine.

The news comes just a few days after the former "Redskins" unveiled their new "Commanders" nickname.

The serious accusations come from Tiffani Johnston, who is a former cheerleader-turned-marketing executive with the NFL team.

During discussions with a US Congressional panel, which was put in place to hear evidence of workplace misconduct, Johnston detailed her dealings with the team's multi-billionaire owner.

"I learned that placing me strategically by the owner at a work dinner after this networking event was not for me to discuss business, but to allow him, Dan Snyder, to place his hand on my thigh under the table," Johnston said at a House Oversight Committee roundtable.

"I also learned later that evening how to awkwardly laugh when Dan Snyder pushed me aggressively towards his limo with his hand on my lower back, encouraging me to ride with him to my car.

"I learned how to say no even though the situation was getting more awkward, uncomfortable and physical."

Snyder, who has been forced to issue a statement, has never personally been accused of sexual misconduct before.

However, Washington's NFL team was recently fined $10million after investigations into the workplace culture found evidence of harassment, bullying and intimidation.

It's understood a number of those people involved in the damning findings no longer work for the franchise.

That said, several female former employees have claimed that Snyder created a toxic environment in the workplace which consisted of abuse and sexual harassment.

CNN report that some female employees were even ordered to wear tight clothing during working hours.

"Dan Snyder rules by fear," Washington's former Director of Marketing Melanie Coburn told the US Congressional panel.

Upon hearing the recent allegations, Snyder strongly rejected them, calling Johnston's claims "lies".

"I apologise again today for this conduct, and fully support the people who have been victimised and have come forward to tell their stories," he said.

"While past conduct at the team was unacceptable, the allegations levelled against me personally in today's roundtable - many of which are well over 13 years old - are outright lies.

"I unequivocally deny having participated in any such conduct, at any time and with respect to any person."