LOS ANGELES — Casey Wasserman will continue serving as chair of the committee overseeing the 2028 Summer Games after the LA28 board reviewed his inclusion in recently released Jeffrey Epstein files.
The files from the Justice Department revealed email exchanges between Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell dating back to 2003.
The LA28 board released a statement Wednesday morning, saying that Wasserman’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell “did not go beyond what was documented.”
Read the full statement below:
“LA28 takes allegations of misconduct seriously, and our Board is committed to thoroughly reviewing any concerns related to the organization’s leadership.”
“With the assistance of outside counsel at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, a review was conducted of Mr. Wasserman’s past interactions with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Mr. Wasserman fully cooperated with the review.”
“We found Mr. Wasserman’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented.”
“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 at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation. This was his single interaction with Epstein. Shortly after, he traded the publicly-known emails with Maxwell. “
“The Executive Committee of the Board has determined that based on these facts, as well as the strong leadership he has exhibited over the past ten years, Mr. Wasserman should continue to lead LA28 and deliver a safe and successful Games.”
The committee offered no additional details about the review but reiterated that it had examined the matter and concluded Wasserman should stay in place.
Wasserman’s name appeared several times in the latest batch of documents connected to Epstein.
The emails were exchanged between Wasserman and Maxwell at a time when Maxwell was trafficking young women.
In the messages, Wasserman – who was married at the time – asked to see Maxwell in a tight leather outfit and requested a massage.
He has since apologized for his association with both Maxwell and Epstein. Some local officials say that apology does not go far enough.
Three Los Angeles city councilmembers, two county supervisors, and a state senator are among those now urging Wasserman to resign.
Meantime, Grammy-winning singer Chappell Roan announced on Monday that she has left the talent agency led by Wasserman.
“If LA28 is very proud of women being in record numbers at the Olympic and Paralympic Games as they’ve been talking about, they need to have a leader who maybe isn’t affiliated with a convicted human trafficker,” said L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
“Either the Epstein files matter in terms of leadership or they don’t,” she added. “I think our survivors want there to be accountability, and they want people of conscience to take action.”
L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn and L.A. City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez are also calling for Wasserman’s resignation, saying his continued role undermines ongoing efforts to ensure the 2028 Games reflect the city’s values.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, however, has not joined those calls.
“As Los Angeles prepares to take the world stage and welcome the world for the Olympic Games for the third time and the Paralympics for the first, it is critical to be 100% focused on making our city shine and ensuring the 2028 Games are the best in Los Angeles’ history,” she said in a previous statement. “Ultimately, any decision on the LA28 leadership must be made by the LA28 Board. As you know, they are a separate and independent nonprofit organization.”
The LA28 Summer Olympics are scheduled to begin in two years, with global attention already turning toward L.A. as preparations intensify.
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