Los Angeles officials are demanding that Casey Wasserman, the chief of the 2028 Olympics organizing committee, step down immediately. This comes after Wasserman’s name appeared in email correspondence related to Jeffrey Epstein that the Department of Justice released last week.
According to People, the issue centers on email exchanges Wasserman had with Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003. The emails had a flirtatious tone and are now raising concerns. They were included in the more than 3 million Epstein files released by the Department of Justice.
Wasserman reportedly told Maxwell he thought of her “all the time.” In one email, the sports agent asked, “So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?” Maxwell responded by offering him a massage that she claimed could “drive a man wild.”
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Wasserman denies wrongdoing but faces mounting political pressure
Despite the suggestive nature of the two-decade-old emails, Wasserman, 51, has acknowledged the correspondence and defended himself. He insists he never had a “personal or business relationship” with Epstein or his associates, and he hasn’t been accused of any wrongdoing. He issued a statement expressing regret for the correspondence with Maxwell, saying it took place long before her “horrific crimes came to light.”
Wasserman explained his only known association with Epstein. He said he “went on a humanitarian trip as part of a delegation with the Clinton Foundation in 2002 on the Epstein plane.” He concluded his statement by apologizing, saying, “I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them.”
Los Angeles officials are not satisfied with his response. County Supervisor Janice Hahn is calling for the executive to resign. Hahn argued that having him represent the city on the world stage creates a major distraction. She told reporters that his presence “distracts focus from our athletes and the enormous effort needed to prepare for 2028.” Much like how sports figures handle criticism, Wasserman’s response has been direct but hasn’t satisfied critics.
County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath echoed that sentiment, focusing on the optics for women athletes and the city’s values. Horvath pointed out that the LA28 organization has promoted having more women participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games than ever before in history. She questioned how that message holds up, asking, “What does that mean when the organization is led by an intimate friend of a convicted human trafficker?”
State Senator Lena Gonzalez, along with Los Angeles City Council members Hugo Soto-MartÃnez, Monica Rodriguez, and Imelda Padilla, have also joined the demand for Wasserman to step down. The mounting pressure shows how leadership decisions impact organizations, particularly when public trust is at stake.
Wasserman serves as Chair and President of the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He is also the founder and CEO of Wasserman, a major global organization that deals in marketing, talent management, and entertainment.
Published: Feb 5, 2026 12:50 pm