LA Mayor Calls for Olympic Chief to Step Down

LA28 chairman's past associations spark controversy as city prepares for 2028 Games

Karen Bass urges Casey Wasserman to resign over Epstein connection amid 2028 Olympics prep.

“I think that decision was unfortunate. I don't support the decision...”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is calling for Casey Wasserman to step down as chairman of the 2028 Olympic Games organizing committee due to his past interactions with Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker and former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein. The controversy surrounds flirtatious email exchanges between Wasserman and Maxwell from over two decades ago, which were revealed in files published by the U.S. Justice Department.

Wasserman has apologized for his association with Maxwell, stating it occurred before her crimes were known. An independent review by the LA28 board found that Wasserman's relationship with Epstein and Maxwell didn't go beyond what's publicly documented, and he has retained his position as chairman. However, Mayor Bass disagrees with this decision, emphasizing her focus on preparing Los Angeles for a successful Olympics.

Wasserman has denied having any personal or business ties with Epstein, emphasizing his apology for his past association with Ghislaine Maxwell, which happened before her or Epstein's wrongdoings came to light.

The LA28 board reviewed Wasserman's connections with Epstein and Maxwell, concluding he could remain chairman as his involvement didn't exceed previously known details. This decision came after scrutiny over his associations.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is pushing for Casey Wasserman to step down as chairman of the 2028 Olympic Games organizing committee, saying, “My opinion is that he should step down,” despite the LA28 board's decision to keep him on.

The board found that Wasserman's interaction with Epstein was limited to a single humanitarian flight to Africa 23 years ago, invited by the Clinton Foundation, and he later exchanged emails with Maxwell. According to LA28, this was before Wasserman or the public knew about Epstein and Maxwell's crimes.

The LA28 board has praised Casey Wasserman for his “strong leadership” over the past decade, but he's facing heat after his name surfaced in Jeffrey Epstein's files. Several high-profile clients, including former US women's soccer star Abby Wambach and country music star Orville Peck, have cut ties with Wasserman's agency, citing moral and ethical concerns.

Wasserman has decided to sell his talent agency, stating that he's become a “distraction” to the company's work. This move comes after flirtatious emails between Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's convicted accomplice, were revealed in the Epstein files. Wasserman has apologized for his past association with Maxwell, saying it occurred before her crimes were known.

Bass emphasized she's focused on prepping LA for the Games, stating she doesn't have the authority to remove Wasserman, so she's concentrating on making sure the city is ready.

“The board made a decision,” she said. “I think that decision was unfortunate. I don't support the decision. I do think that we need to look at the leadership.”

“However, my job as mayor of Los Angeles is to make sure that our city is completely prepared to have the best Olympics ‌that has ever happened in Olympic history,” she said.

“So my focus is a little different, but the behavior of Maxwell, what ‌they were involved in is abhorrent, and it's an issue that I've worked on for a long time.”

Wasserman's agency is up for sale, with him citing he's become a "

“distraction”to the business, according to The Wall Street Journal. This move comes after his name surfaced in Epstein's files, sparking controversy.