NFL Could Take Action on Washington NFL Team's Sexual Harassment Investigation

The NFL announced Friday it will review findings of an independent investigation into alleged sexual harassment within the Washington franchise to determine whether it will punish the team, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Will Hobson and Liz Clarke of the Washington Post reported Thursday on 15 women who made allegations of harassment and abuse against current and former members of the organization.

The team has retained the Wilkinson Walsh law firm, which is based in Washington, to review the situation, per Chris Bumbaca of USA Today.

"The Washington football team takes issues of employee conduct seriously," the team said in a statement to the Washington Post. "While we do not speak to specific employee situations publicly, when new allegations of conduct are brought forward that are contrary to these policies, we address them promptly."

New head coach Ron Rivera, who was hired January after nine years in the same role with the Carolina Panthers, commented on the matter to ESPN's John Keim.

"Biggest thing is that we have to move forward from this and make sure everybody understands we have policies that we will follow and that we have an open-door policy with no retribution," Rivera said. "Plus my daughter works for the team, and I sure as hell am not going to allow any of this!"

The allegations come amid a tumultuous time for the franchise.

Washington announced Monday it had continued a "thorough review of the team's name" and confirmed its former nickname, which was viewed as racist toward Native Americans, would be retired.

Meanwhile, multiple minority members of the franchise's ownership group had begun trying to sell their shares in the NFL organization amid problems with majority owner Daniel Snyder, according to Liz Clarke, Mark Maske and Les Carpenter of the Washington Post.

Snyder has owned the franchise since 1999.

The team is scheduled to play its first game of the 2020 season Sept. 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles.