LA28 Board Supports Casey Wasserman After Epstein-Maxwell Investigation
Casey Wasserman Retains Leadership of LA28 Amid Controversy
LOS ANGELES – Casey Wasserman will continue as the chair of the LA28 Olympic organizing committee, following a thorough investigation into his past connections with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell and the late Jeffrey Epstein. This decision was announced by the LA28 Executive Committee Board on Wednesday.
The board’s support for Wasserman comes after local elected officials, including three Los Angeles City Council members and County Supervisor Janice Hahn, called for his resignation due to previously revealed flirtatious emails exchanged with Maxwell. These emails surfaced alongside scrutiny of Wasserman’s participation in a humanitarian flight on Epstein’s plane in 2002.
An independent review conducted by the law firm O’Melveny & Myers LLP determined that Wasserman’s associations were limited and did not exceed what was already known. The firm found the interactions were primarily encapsulated in a charitable mission to Africa and "salacious" emails from 2003.
Despite the demands for his resignation, the board highlighted Wasserman’s decade of leadership and cooperation during the investigation as factors in their decision to retain him. "Twenty-three years ago, before Mr. Wasserman or the public knew of Epstein and Maxwell’s deplorable crimes, Mr. Wasserman and his then-wife flew on a humanitarian mission to Africa on Epstein’s plane," the board explained in their statement.
In his defense, Wasserman expressed regret over the 20-year-old correspondence, stating, "I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell which took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light. I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them."
Looking ahead, Wasserman is expected to lead ongoing preparations for the 2028 Summer Games. However, questions remain regarding the potential impact of local elected officials’ opposition on funding and legislative support for the event. No legislative action has yet been taken by the Los Angeles City Council or County Board of Supervisors in light of the board’s findings.
Critics of Wasserman continue to voice their concerns. LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn warned, "Having him represent us on the world stage distracts focus from our athletes and the enormous efforts needed to prepare for 2028," while City Council member Hugo Soto-Martinez emphasized, "Casey Wasserman should step aside immediately. Anything less is a distraction."
