L.A. Mayor Calls for Wasserman to Resign from LA28 Amid Epstein Files Backlash

Bass says Wasserman should step down as chair despite board's backing

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is calling for Casey Wasserman to resign as chairperson of the LA28 Olympic organizing committee after emails surfaced showing his correspondence with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003. While the LA28 board has publicly backed Wasserman after an outside review, Bass says she believes he should step down despite not having the power to directly remove him.

Why it matters

The LA28 Olympics are a major civic project for Los Angeles, and Wasserman's leadership role has come under scrutiny due to his past connections to the Epstein sex trafficking scandal. Bass's public call for his resignation puts pressure on the LA28 board and could impact public trust in the city's Olympic preparations.

The details

The emails between Wasserman and Maxwell were released as part of the Department of Justice's Jeffrey Epstein document dump. While the LA28 board has stated that their own review found no wrongdoing by Wasserman, Mayor Bass believes he should still step down from his position as chairperson.

  • The emails between Wasserman and Maxwell surfaced in February 2026 as part of the DOJ's Epstein document release.
  • Mayor Bass made her public call for Wasserman's resignation during a CNN interview on February 17, 2026.

The players

Karen Bass

The mayor of Los Angeles who is calling for Casey Wasserman to resign from his position as chairperson of the LA28 Olympic organizing committee.

Casey Wasserman

The chairperson of the LA28 Olympic organizing committee whose past correspondence with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell has come under scrutiny, leading to calls for his resignation.

LA28 Olympic Organizing Committee

The committee responsible for overseeing the planning and execution of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Ghislaine Maxwell

The convicted sex trafficker who was associated with Jeffrey Epstein and whose correspondence with Casey Wasserman in 2003 has sparked the current controversy.

Jeffrey Epstein

The late financier who was convicted of sex trafficking and whose case has led to the release of documents that have now implicated Casey Wasserman.

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What they’re saying

“I cannot fire him, but I have an opinion. And my opinion is that he should step down. That's not the opinion of the board.”

— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (CNN)

What’s next

The LA28 board has stated they will continue to review the matter, but it remains to be seen if they will heed Mayor Bass's call for Wasserman's resignation.

The takeaway

This controversy highlights the challenges of maintaining public trust in major civic projects like the Olympics, especially when leaders are found to have past connections to high-profile scandals. The mayor's public stance puts pressure on the LA28 board to address the issue transparently and decisively.