Mayor Urges LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman To Step Down Over Epstein Files
Mayor Karen Bass urged Casey Wasserman to step down after Justice Department files showed 2003 emails with Ghislaine Maxwell; LA28's board backed him after an outside review, and he is selling his agency.
Overview
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said her opinion is that Casey Wasserman should step down as chair of the LA 2028 organizing committee.
Justice Department files published late last month included flirtatious emails from 2003 between Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell, prompting renewed scrutiny of his role.
The LA28 board said an outside legal review found Wasserman's relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond public record and backed him to stay, while the IOC said the board should decide.
Wasserman is selling his entertainment and sports agency after clients including Chappell Roan and Abby Wambach cut ties, and he has led the LA effort since the bid was launched in 2015.
The mayor said she cannot fire him and emphasized focus on preparing the city to host the Olympics in July and August of 2028, while city officials and some council members seek further review.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Wasserman as an embattled figure under mounting pressure, foregrounding Mayor Bass’s call to resign, client losses and "flirtatious" emails while relegating his denial and the note that he faces no accusations to later paragraphs. Language, quoted officials, and story order create a narrative of reputational harm.
Sources (5)
FAQ
The emails were flirtatious, with Wasserman writing 'I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?' and Maxwell asking about foggy weather for him to 'float naked down the beach.'
Wasserman flew on Epstein's plane in 2002 for a humanitarian trip to Africa as part of a Clinton Foundation delegation; he states he never had a personal or business relationship with Epstein.
Mayor Bass believes Wasserman should step down as LA28 chair due to the newly released Justice Department files showing his 2003 emails with Ghislaine Maxwell.
The LA28 board conducted an outside legal review, found his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not exceed public records, and backed him to continue leading.
Wasserman is selling his agency after clients like Chappell Roan and Abby Wambach cut ties due to the released Maxwell emails; he regrets the brief contacts from over 20 years ago.
History
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