LA Olympics Chair Faces Council Scrutiny

The resolution, introduced by Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez and seconded by Councilwoman Imelda Padilla, urges the LA28 organizing committee and the International Olympic Committee to ensure their leadership reflects values of integrity and respect. It specifically voices concern over a potential conflict between these values and Casey Wasserman's association with the late Jeffrey Epstein and the convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. This council action follows the release of court documents revealing "flirty" email exchanges between Wasserman and Maxwell from two decades ago. While the resolution does not explicitly demand Wasserman's resignation, it calls for a "thorough and transparent review" of his involvement in matters related to the Epstein investigations. The vote on the resolution, initially scheduled for March 6, 2026, was postponed. The controversy has prompted several public officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, and City Controller Kenneth Mejia, to call for Wasserman's resignation. The West Hollywood City Council unanimously passed its own resolution calling for him to step down, arguing his associations could become a distraction and undermine public trust in the Games. In response to the backlash, Wasserman has apologized for his correspondence with Maxwell, stating it happened long before her crimes were known and denying any relationship with Epstein. He also announced he is selling his namesake talent and marketing agency, telling staff he had "become a distraction" to the firm's work. Despite the political pressure, the LA28 board of directors continues to support Wasserman. After commissioning an external review by the law firm O'Melveny & Myers, the board stated the review found Wasserman's interactions did not go beyond what was already public. LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover has also publicly affirmed his backing for the chairman.