Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Casey Wasserman should step down from leading the 2028 Summer Olympics as fallout grows from newly released Epstein-related records.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Newly released Justice Department files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have triggered renewed scrutiny of LA28 Chairman Casey Wasserman, placing his leadership of the 2028 Summer Olympics in question, according to a report by Just the News.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Monday that she believes Wasserman should resign, following disclosures that he exchanged flirtatious emails more than two decades ago with Ghislaine Maxwell, who was later convicted of sex trafficking in connection with Epstein. Bass’s remarks were reported by the Los Angeles Times.
“My opinion is that he should step down. That’s not the opinion of the board,” Bass said. She added that “we need to look at the leadership” of LA28 and emphasized that her responsibility is to ensure the city is “completely prepared” to host the Games.
Two weeks earlier, Bass had declined to take a position, stating it was up to the LA28 board to determine whether Wasserman should remain in his role. On Monday, she described it as “unfortunate” that the board continues to support him.
The email exchanges between Wasserman and Maxwell occurred before Maxwell was sentenced to prison for recruiting teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. Wasserman has previously apologized for the correspondence, expressing regret over any association with Maxwell and Epstein.
Wasserman announced last week that he would sell his sports and entertainment company amid criticism tied to the email revelations.
The LA28 board’s executive committee said Wednesday that it reviewed Wasserman’s past conduct and concluded he should continue serving as chairman, citing the facts and his “strong leadership” of the Olympic effort. The committee stated it takes “allegations of misconduct seriously.”
The board retained outside counsel O’Melveny & Myers LLP to assist with its review of Wasserman’s interactions with Epstein and Maxwell. According to the executive committee, Wasserman fully cooperated with the review process.
At least 10 Los Angeles-area elected officials, including five members of the City Council, have called for Wasserman’s resignation, arguing that the controversy presents a distraction as preparations for the Games continue.
City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who is running against Bass in the upcoming mayoral race, also urged Wasserman to step aside.
Wasserman was appointed more than a decade ago by former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, a longtime associate, to lead the city’s Olympic bid and planning efforts.
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