L.A. Mayor Calls for 2028 Olympics Chair Casey Wasserman to Resign Over Epstein Ties
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has publicly urged Casey Wasserman to step down as chairman of the LA28 Olympic organizing committee, citing his past email correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This call for resignation comes despite Wasserman receiving backing from the LA28 board following an external legal review. The controversy has created significant distractions for the International Olympic Committee and has led to client losses at Wasserman's namesake agency, raising questions about leadership stability less than four years before the Games.
The leadership of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is facing a significant crisis following a public call for resignation from the city's mayor. Mayor Karen Bass has stated that Casey Wasserman, the influential chairman of the LA28 organizing committee, should step down due to his past connections with Ghislaine Maxwell, the former associate of convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. This development, reported by ESPN, introduces a major political and reputational challenge for the upcoming Summer Games, casting a shadow over preparations and raising concerns about governance and public trust.
The Mayor's Public Stance
In a late Monday interview with CNN, Mayor Karen Bass made her position unequivocally clear. "My opinion is that he should step down," she stated, directly contradicting the LA28 board's recent decision to retain Wasserman. Bass emphasized that while she lacks the direct authority to remove him, her role as mayor is to ensure the city is fully prepared to host a successful event. "I think that decision was unfortunate," she said of the board's support for Wasserman. "I don't support the decision. I do think that we need to look at the leadership." This public rift between the city's top elected official and the Olympic organizing body creates an unprecedented layer of complexity for the Games' planning, which relies heavily on seamless cooperation between civic and organizing entities.
Escalating Scrutiny and Board Backing
The pressure on Wasserman intensified during the recent Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, where the issue became a persistent distraction for the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The controversy stems from the publication of flirtatious emails exchanged between Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003, released in a U.S. government document dump just before the Winter Games opened. In response, the LA28 board commissioned an external legal review of Wasserman's contacts with Epstein and Maxwell. Wasserman cooperated with the investigation, and based on its findings, the board reaffirmed its support for him to remain as chairman last week.
Wasserman has expressed regret for the correspondence, stating in a pre-Milan release, "I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell," which occurred "long before her horrific crimes came to light." Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on five counts of sex trafficking and abuse of minors and is serving a 20-year prison sentence. Wasserman has not been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein and Maxwell's crimes.
Business Fallout and IOC Response
The reputational damage has extended beyond the Olympic sphere to Wasserman's core business. His entertainment and sports agency, Wasserman, has reportedly lost high-profile clients including pop star Chappell Roan and soccer legend Abby Wambach since the emails were published. Wasserman is now in the process of selling the agency, a move seen as a direct consequence of the scandal. The IOC, initially deferring to the LA28 board, has shown a subtle shift in its language. IOC spokesman Mark Adams stated in Milan, "I understand there are many conversations happening at this moment but I will not make any further comment. This is obviously a matter for the board of LA28 still at this stage."
Implications for the 2028 Games
Casey Wasserman has been a pivotal figure in the Los Angeles Olympic project since the bid's inception in 2015. His leadership and connections have been considered central to the organizing effort. The public call for his resignation by Mayor Bass, coupled with Governor Gavin Newsom's crucial role, threatens to disrupt the essential government support needed for the massive logistical undertaking of hosting the Olympics. With less than four years until the Games, sustained controversy around the chairman could hinder planning, fundraising, and public enthusiasm. The situation underscores the immense scrutiny faced by Olympic organizers and the high ethical standards demanded of their leadership.
