L.A. Mayor Calls for 2028 Olympics Chief to Resign Over Epstein Ties

Karen Bass says Casey Wasserman should step down from leading the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Games.

Feb. 18, 2026 at 8:23pm

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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is calling for Casey Wasserman, the chair and president of the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to resign from his post over his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Bass said she does not support the LA28 executive committee's decision to back Wasserman, whose name surfaced in emails to Ghislaine Maxwell that were released as part of the Epstein files.

Why it matters

Wasserman's connection to the Epstein scandal has become a major distraction as Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Olympics. Bass and other local officials believe his continued leadership could overshadow the Games and detract from the focus on the athletes and the city's preparations.

The details

Last week, the LA28 executive committee board backed Wasserman after conducting a review of his possible ties to Epstein and Maxwell. However, Bass said she believes Wasserman should step down, even though she cannot directly fire him from his position. Several other Los Angeles officials, including county supervisors and city council members, have also called for Wasserman to resign.

  • On January 30, 2026, more than 3 million Epstein files were released by the Department of Justice, which included Wasserman's 2003 email correspondence with Maxwell.
  • On February 16, 2026, Mayor Karen Bass spoke out against the LA28 executive committee's decision to keep Wasserman in his role.

The players

Karen Bass

The mayor of Los Angeles who is calling for Casey Wasserman to resign from his position leading the 2028 Olympics organizing committee.

Casey Wasserman

The chair and president of the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, whose name was linked to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal through email correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell.

LA28 Executive Committee

The board that oversees the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympics and has so far backed Wasserman to continue in his role, despite the mayor's calls for him to resign.

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What they’re saying

“LA28 has the discretion, the board made a decision, I think that decision was unfortunate. I don't support the decision. I do think that we need to look at the leadership. However, my job as mayor of Los Angeles is to make sure that our city is completely prepared to have the best Olympics that has ever happened in Olympic history.”

— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (CNN)

“We found Mr. Wasserman's relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented. The Executive Committee of the Board has determined that based on these facts, as well as the strong leadership he has exhibited over the past ten years, Mr. Wasserman should continue to lead LA28 and deliver a safe and successful Games.”

— LA28 Executive Committee (ESPN)

What’s next

The judge overseeing the Epstein case will likely be asked to review the LA28 executive committee's decision to keep Wasserman in his role, as local officials continue to pressure him to resign.

The takeaway

The fallout from the Epstein scandal continues to create distractions and controversies for major institutions and events, underscoring the need for rigorous vetting of leadership and strong ethical standards, especially for high-profile public roles like overseeing the Olympics.