LA Mayor Calls for Wasserman to Step Down as LA28 Chairman

Bass says Wasserman should resign from Olympic organizing committee amid Epstein scandal

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has publicly stated that Casey Wasserman, the chairman of the LA28 Olympic organizing committee, should step down from his role. Bass's comments come amid the fallout from Wasserman's connection to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell, which was revealed in recently disclosed Justice Department files.

Why it matters

Wasserman's leadership of the LA28 committee has come under intense scrutiny due to his past relationship with Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking charges related to Epstein's crimes. As the city prepares to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, Bass believes Wasserman's continued involvement could be a distraction and undermine public confidence in the games' organization.

The details

In an interview with CNN, Mayor Bass said that while the LA28 board has reaffirmed Wasserman's status as chairman, she believes he should resign from the position. Bass emphasized that her focus is on ensuring Los Angeles is fully prepared to host the best Olympics ever, and that Wasserman's association with the Epstein scandal is "abhorrent" and an issue Bass has worked on for a long time.

  • On February 13, Wasserman disclosed plans to sell his talent representation and marketing firm to concentrate on the 2028 Olympics.
  • In the past three weeks, Justice Department files revealed Wasserman's intimate relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein.

The players

Karen Bass

The mayor of Los Angeles who has called for Casey Wasserman to step down as chairman of the LA28 Olympic organizing committee.

Casey Wasserman

The chairman of the LA28 Olympic organizing committee who has come under fire for his past relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex trafficker associated with Jeffrey Epstein.

Ghislaine Maxwell

A convicted sex trafficker and longtime associate of the late Jeffrey Epstein, who was revealed to have had an intimate relationship with Casey Wasserman in 2003 according to recently disclosed Justice Department files.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender and sex trafficker whose crimes have led to scrutiny of Wasserman's past relationship with his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.

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What they’re saying

“My opinion is that he should step down. That's the not the opinion of the [LA28] board.”

— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (CNN)

What’s next

The LA28 board will likely have to address Mayor Bass's call for Wasserman to resign as chairman of the Olympic organizing committee in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the challenges of maintaining public trust and confidence in major events like the Olympics, especially when organizers have connections to high-profile scandals. Mayor Bass's stance suggests the need for LA28 to carefully consider Wasserman's continued leadership to ensure the 2028 games are not overshadowed by this controversy.