Mayor Pushes for Change in LA Olympic Leadership

The Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, has called for the resignation of Casey Wasserman, chair of the 2028 Olympic planning committee.
The demand follows revelations from U.S. Justice Department documents that show emails between Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell, a known sex trafficker, spanning more than twenty years. These exchanges predate Maxwell’s criminal allegations becoming public.

Key Points

• Wasserman denies ties to Jeffrey Epstein, asserting no personal or business connection.
• He apologized for his past contact with Maxwell, stating it occurred before her or Epstein’s wrongdoing was known.
• Last week the committee board approved Wasserman to remain chair, citing:
• Only one flight on Epstein’s plane for a humanitarian trip in Africa, organized by the Clinton Foundation.
• Email exchanges with Maxwell shortly after that flight.
• Praise for his decade‑long leadership of the committee.

Mayor Bass’s Position

• No formal authority to remove Wasserman, yet she deems his presence problematic.
• Focuses on ensuring Los Angeles delivers a flawless, potentially historic Olympic Games.
• Expresses ongoing concern over Maxwell’s moral implications.

Additional Developments

• Reports indicate Wasserman is selling his talent and marketing agency.
• He told staff he feels like a distraction from the company’s work, which may influence his future Olympic role.