Pressure is mounting on Casey Wasserman to resign as chair of the LA28 Organizing Committee after newly released Justice Department files exposed his flirtatious email exchanges with Ghislaine Maxwell.
At least seven elected officials have publicly called for the media mogul to step down after damning emails between him and Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s lover and fixer, emerged in the latest tranche of three million pages, videos and images released by the U.S. Justice Department.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, a federal law signed in November 2025, compels the release of all records related to the convicted sex trafficker and his network within 30 days.
“I think Casey Wasserman needs to step down,” L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn told the Los Angeles Times.
Hahn, who works alongside Wasserman and the committee in preparation for the 2028 Games, said his presence was now a distraction.
“Having him represent us on the world stage distracts focus from our athletes and the enormous effort needed to prepare for 2028,” Hahn said.
The included emails from more than 20 years ago exchanged between Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former partner, who was convicted of transporting and trafficking young women.
State Sen. Lena Gonzalez and Los Angeles City Council members – Hugo Soto-Martínez, Monica Rodriguez, and Imelda Padilla – also urged the media mogul to resign, the Times reported.
“The failure to complete a robust Human Rights plan, coupled with the revelations from the newly released Epstein files, makes clear that no one associated with Epstein and his associates can provide credible leadership in the planning of these games, which now includes Casey Wasserman,” Rodriguez said in a statement.
In racy emails between Wasserman and Maxwell, the pair discussed intimate matters while Wasserman was married. In one email he asked Maxwell to arrange a massage and commented on seeing her in a tight leather outfit.
Maxwell offered a massage she said could “drive a man wild,” and the pair exchanged messages about how much they missed each other, according Department of Justice documents.
“I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell which took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light,” Wasserman said in a statement.
“I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them.”
Critics say Wasserman’s statements of regret are insufficient, noting that victims had sought the release of these files “in the hope that people of conscience will take action.”
“LA28 has celebrated the prospect of more women participating in the Olympic and Paralympic Games than ever before,” said Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who is considering a mayoral run to succeed Bass. “What does that mean when the organization is led by someone who was an intimate friend of a convicted human trafficker? Now is the time for LA28 to show how much it truly values women.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who works closely with Wasserman on planning the Games and recently highlighted her efforts with LA28, has remained silent on the controversy.
Her office has not responded to the Post’s request for comment.