In February, Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder filed a lawsuit against sportswriter Dave McKenna and the Washington City Paper for an article titled “The Cranky Redskin’s Guide to Dan Snyder,” claiming the piece was libelous and anti-Semitic. At the time, the Voice praised City Paper’s undaunted attitude in response to Snyder’s threats and encouraged our readers to support the legal defense fund that the paper had set up online. The lawsuit, widely mocked since its inception, was finally abandoned on Saturday. The end of the case is not only a triumph in the name of journalistic integrity, but also stands as a testament to the enduring strength of the First Amendment’s promise of free speech and freedom of the press.
Snyder’s case was based on his own deliberate misreading of the article’s content (he later admitted he had never actually read the article). There were no factual inaccuracies in the article, and the image that Snyder claimed was anti-Semitic was merely a photo of him featuring a jokey drawn-on mustache and horns, the way a cheeky student might deface a photo of a resented teacher. When Snyder and his lawyers decided to drop the case, City Paper editor Michael Schaffer said, “[Snyder’s lawyers] could have saved everyone a great deal of hassle. . . by actually focusing on the content of the story instead of engaging in months of expensive bullying.”
The case boiled down to a powerful figure’s transparent attempt to undermine the constitutional rights of a journalist in an effort to save face after an embarrassing expose. The arrogance that sometimes accompanies wealth does not get more blatant than letting your legal opponent know you’re rich enough to run them dry, as the Redskins’ general counsel did in a letter to the City Paper’s parent company shortly before the case was officially filed. Also repugnant was Snyder’s use of the phrase “hate crime” in an attempt to evoke public sympathy for the sake of a thin-skinned multi-billionaire. It was a complete distortion of the situation to bolster an unfounded and fatuous case.
This case was yet another manifestation of Snyder’s notorious inability to handle any sort of criticism. While it is unfortunate that wealth allows some Americans to hire lawyers to defend their egos and waste our time, it is reassuring to know that money cannot overturn the rights afforded to each American by law. It would be wiser for Snyder to spend more time managing his often hapless Redskins—the team can hardly afford an owner more interested in maintaining his pride than his team’s competitiveness.
