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Former Washington Football Team cheerleaders are still waiting for answers about the NFL’s investigation into the team’s workplace culture.

Attorney Lisa Banks, who represents 40 ex-WFT employees, told USA Today that Lisa Friel, the NFL’s special counsel for investigations, did not agree to a meeting with the former WFT staffers.

“She sent me an email saying, ‘Sorry, I’ll be in touch,’ ” Banks said. “But without any substance or timing.”

Banks said the league had waited several weeks to respond to a request to meet with her clients, who want more details of the full investigation results into the organization’s reported misogynistic environment.

Tuesday, Banks called for the NFL to release its full findings. Her statement came a day after the New York Times published emails from the investigation which exposed Raiders coach Jon Gruden’s use of racist, homophobic and misogynistic language. Gruden resigned from his position later Monday.

The emails also contained alleged inappropriate photos of partially nude women, including two WFT cheerleaders at a past swimsuit photo shoot, according to the outlet.


  Former Washington cheerleaders want to see the results of the NFL’s investigation into the franchise. UPI Former Washington cheerleaders want to see the results of the NFL’s investigation into the franchise. UPI

There is reportedly no written report of the NFL’s findings, which Friel said is due to privacy concerns for those involved, according to USA Today.

Banks said the women never asked for privacy and want to know why it was given.

“They all participated in this investigation in good faith, and it was hard for them to do it,” she said. “They expected at the end they’d [learn] what were the findings of the investigation and what are you going to do about it so they’d know it would have some meaning. They got nothing.

“They never asked for no report, they never asked for help or protection, so that was somewhat disingenuous. They want to know why there was no written report, and what were the findings?”

Banks noted that Friel’s response came after two previous attempts to contact the league via email, adding she’s hopeful a meeting will happen as the NFL has been responsive in the past.

Before the emails and photos emerged this week, WFT cheerleaders had previously complained about inappropriate behavior within the organization. A number of cheerleaders filed lawsuits alleging a secret, uncensored video taken at a squad photo shoot had been distributed to team executives. The lawsuits were settled out of court and the cheerleaders signed non-disclosure agreements in December.

Now, former WFT cheerleaders are demanding the NFL and team release the full investigation results in a petition, created by former WFT cheerleader and longtime employee Melanie Coburn. 

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