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LA Mayor Calls for LA28 Chair Wasserman to Resign Over Epstein Ties
Bass says Wasserman should step down as head of LA's 2028 Olympics committee following revelations of his interactions with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
Published on Feb. 18, 2026
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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has called for Casey Wasserman to resign as chairman of the committee organizing the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, following revelations of his past interactions with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. The LA28 board has decided to keep Wasserman in his role after reviewing his relationship with Maxwell and the late Jeffrey Epstein, but Bass disagrees with that decision, calling the behavior "abhorrent." While Bass says she lacks the power to fire Wasserman, she is focused on preparing the city to host the best Olympics ever.
Why it matters
The revelations about Wasserman's past interactions with Maxwell have raised concerns about his leadership of the LA28 committee, which is responsible for overseeing the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. As a prominent figure in the city, Wasserman's continued role has become a political issue, with the mayor publicly disagreeing with the board's decision to keep him in place.
The details
Files published by the U.S. Justice Department showed flirty email exchanges from more than two decades ago between Wasserman and Maxwell, the former girlfriend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Wasserman has denied having a personal or business relationship with Epstein, but has apologized for his association with Maxwell. The LA28 board reviewed the matter and determined that Wasserman's interactions with Maxwell occurred before her or Epstein's crimes were revealed, and that he had only a single interaction with Epstein on a humanitarian mission to Africa. However, Mayor Bass believes Wasserman should still step down as chairman.
- In 2023, Wasserman and his then-wife flew on Epstein's plane to Africa at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation.
- More than 20 years ago, Wasserman exchanged flirty emails with Ghislaine Maxwell.
The players
Karen Bass
The mayor of Los Angeles who has called for Casey Wasserman to resign as chairman of the LA28 committee organizing the 2028 Olympics.
Casey Wasserman
The chairman of the LA28 committee organizing the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, who has faced scrutiny over his past interactions with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
Ghislaine Maxwell
The former girlfriend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of sex trafficking.
Jeffrey Epstein
A convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019.
What they’re saying
“My opinion is that he should step down.”
— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (CNN)
“The behavior of Maxwell, what they were involved in is abhorrent, and it's an issue that I've worked on for a long time.”
— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (CNN)
What’s next
The LA28 board will likely continue to face pressure from Mayor Bass and others to reconsider Wasserman's leadership role, but the board has already stated its support for him to remain as chairman.
The takeaway
This controversy highlights the challenges of maintaining ethical leadership in high-profile sporting events, as well as the political tensions that can arise when local officials disagree with the decisions of the organizing committees.
