LA28 board backs Wasserman after Epstein scrutiny

Wasserman's past contacts with Epstein and Maxwell do not impact his leadership, board says

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The LA28 board has decided to keep Casey Wasserman as the leader of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after reviewing his past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. An outside legal firm conducted a review, and the board says Wasserman faces no accusations of wrongdoing and his leadership remains strong despite the newly released government files showing flirtatious emails between Wasserman and Maxwell in 2003.

Why it matters

Wasserman's ties to Epstein and Maxwell have come under scrutiny, raising questions about his suitability to lead the LA Olympics. The board's decision to stand by him despite the revelations signals their confidence in his leadership and ability to navigate the challenges ahead.

The details

The LA28 board's executive committee met to discuss Wasserman's appearance in newly released government files showing he exchanged flirtatious emails with Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003. However, the board says his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell does not go beyond what is already public, and an outside legal firm found no accusations of wrongdoing against Wasserman.

  • The LA28 board's executive committee met on Wednesday to discuss Wasserman's contacts with Epstein and Maxwell.

The players

Casey Wasserman

The leader of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, whose past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell have come under scrutiny.

LA28 board

The board overseeing the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which has decided to keep Wasserman in his leadership role despite the revelations about his contacts with Epstein and Maxwell.

Ghislaine Maxwell

A former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, who exchanged flirtatious emails with Wasserman in 2003 according to newly released government files.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender whose past contacts with Wasserman have come under scrutiny.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

The LA28 board's decision to stand by Wasserman despite the revelations about his past contacts with Epstein and Maxwell signals their confidence in his leadership and ability to navigate the challenges ahead for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.