Casey Wasserman, chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee (LA28), will retain his position despite past associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
On Thursday, Reuters and other media outlets reported that the organizing committee reviewed Wasserman’s previous interactions with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former partner and accomplice. The committee concluded that Wasserman could continue his chairmanship without issue.
Documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice last month unveiled email exchanges from 2003 between the then-married Wasserman and Maxwell. Epstein, who died in 2019, was involved in sex trafficking of minors from 1994 to 2004, with suspicions of involvement extending to numerous high-profile figures in politics and business. Maxwell is currently imprisoned for allegedly recruiting and grooming girls for Epstein.
Given these connections, Wasserman’s associations with Epstein and Maxwell could potentially lead to allegations of sexual impropriety. LA28 sought external legal counsel to review Wasserman’s case, and he fully cooperated with the investigation.
The review confirmed that Wasserman’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not exceed what was already public knowledge. Twenty-three years ago, Wasserman and his ex-wife participated in a humanitarian mission to Africa at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation, using Epstein’s private jet. This was Wasserman’s sole documented contact with Epstein.
The email exchanges with Maxwell were also found to be within the scope of publicly available information.
The LA28 executive committee stated that, considering these findings and Wasserman’s strong leadership over the past decade, it is appropriate for him to continue leading LA28 and preparing for the upcoming Olympics.
Wasserman has denied any personal or business relationship with Epstein. While he apologized for his interactions with Maxwell, he emphasized that these occurred before Epstein’s crimes became public.
Sharp criticism has emerged from the sports community. Retired U.S. women’s soccer star Abby Wambach called for Wasserman to step down from his position as head of a sports and entertainment talent agency, which he founded in 2002.
Furthermore, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, State Senator Lena Gonzalez, and three city council members have reportedly urged Wasserman to resign from his position at LA28.
Meanwhile, Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence. Epstein, who was incarcerated on sex trafficking charges in 2019, was found dead in a Manhattan jail that same year, with his death ruled a suicide.