Roger Goodell answers that he does not have the "authority" to remove Dan Snyder after Rep.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says he has no authority to remove Daniel Snyder as owner of the Washington Commanders amid ongoing scrutiny into the organization's workplace culture and accusations from women employees of pervasive sexual harassment by team executives.

The committee will not be deterred in its investigation into the Washington Commanders.".

Goodell told the committee that the team's culture has transformed as a result of an investigation led by attorney Beth Wilkinson and that Snyder "has been held accountable.".

Following Wednesday's hearing, the Commanders sent a letter to team employees -- a copy of which was obtained by ESPN -- that said, in part, "We believe the statements that have been made in the media critical of our organization do not accurately reflect our positive transformation and the current reality of the Washington Commanders organization that exists today.".

The committee released the findings of its eight-month investigation before Wednesday's hearing started, accusing Snyder of conducting his own "shadow investigation" that sought to discredit former employees, hiring private investigators to intimidate witnesses, and using an overseas lawsuit as a pretext to obtain phone records and emails.

Attorneys Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, who represent more than 40 former team employees, again called on Goodell to release a report from the Wilkinson probe, calling it "stunning and disheartening" to hear him say Snyder has been held accountable.

"Today, the committee released a damning report demonstrating that Snyder and his lawyers also surveilled and investigated complainants, their lawyers, witnesses and journalists, which Goodell knew about and did nothing to address," Banks and Katz said in a statement.