LA Mayor Calls for Wasserman to Resign from 2028 Olympics Committee

Bass disagrees with committee's decision to keep Wasserman as chairman amid Epstein ties

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is calling for Casey Wasserman to resign as chairman of the committee overseeing the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, citing his ties to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. While the LA28 board's executive committee reviewed Wasserman's contacts with Epstein and Maxwell and concluded he should continue to lead, Bass disagrees with that decision and believes Wasserman should step down.

Why it matters

The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles are a major event for the city, and the leadership of the organizing committee is crucial. Wasserman's connections to the Epstein scandal have raised concerns about his suitability to lead the committee, and the mayor's public disagreement with the board's decision highlights the political tensions around this issue.

The details

Wasserman's name appeared in two emails from 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell, who was a co-conspirator of the late Jeffrey Epstein. Wasserman has said he regrets the correspondence, which occurred 'long before her horrific crimes came to light.' The LA28 board's executive committee reviewed Wasserman's contacts with Epstein and Maxwell and concluded he 'should continue to lead LA28 and deliver a safe and successful Games.' However, Mayor Bass disagrees with this decision and believes Wasserman should step down.

  • The 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles are scheduled for July 14-30.
  • The U.S. Justice Department released more than 3 million documents pertaining to Epstein in 2026.

The players

Karen Bass

The mayor of Los Angeles since 2022, who is calling for Casey Wasserman to resign from the 2028 Olympics committee.

Casey Wasserman

The chairman of the committee overseeing the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, who has ties to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Ghislaine Maxwell

A co-conspirator of the late Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted in 2021 of a scheme to sexually exploit and abuse multiple minor girls.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender and disgraced financier who died in 2019.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I cannot fire him. My opinion is that he should step down. That's not the opinion of the board.”

— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (CNN)

“I think that decision was unfortunate. I don't support the decision. I do think that we need to look at the leadership.”

— Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (CNN)

“I regret the correspondence with Maxwell, which occurred long before her horrific crimes came to light.”

— Casey Wasserman (N/A)

What’s next

The LA28 board's executive committee will likely face continued pressure from Mayor Bass to reconsider their decision to keep Wasserman as chairman of the 2028 Olympics committee.

The takeaway

The tensions between Mayor Bass and the LA28 board over Wasserman's leadership highlight the challenges of maintaining public trust and confidence in the 2028 Olympics organizing committee, especially given the high-profile nature of the Epstein scandal.