Though LA28 organizing committee chairmanCasey Wasserman has been linked to Jeffrey Epsteinin a series of emails that were released late last month, leaders of the organizing committee said Wednesday that Wasserman should continue to serve as the committee chair.
This development comes as Wasserman's talent agency has lost several high-profile clients, including former soccer star Abby Wambach.
After a review of his past conduct and Wasserman's "strong leadership," the LA28 committee said, he should remain in charge of the LA28 organizing committee.
"We found Mr. Wasserman's relationship with Epstein and [Ghislaine] Maxwell did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented," the board's executive committee said in a statement on Wednesday,via The Los Angeles Times.
"Twenty-three years ago, before Mr. Wasserman or the public knew of Epstein and Maxwell's deplorable crimes, Mr. Wasserman and his then-wife flew on a humanitarian mission to Africa on Epstein's plane at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation. This was his single interaction with Epstein. Shortly after, he traded the publicly-known emails with Maxwell.
"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."
What are Casey Wasserman's connections to Epstein, Maxwell?
Emails between Wasserman and Maxwell from 2003were released late last month by the U.S. Department of Justice, as part of a release of millions of files.
Maxwell, a convicted sex offender and longtime associate of Epstein, told Wasserman in an email thread that she had thought of him at "inappropriate moments."
"I think of you all the time … So what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?" Wasserman wrote back. "I am in NY tonight, you're not, what am I to do?"
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Their correspondence continued, and Wasserman was married at the time. He and his wife divorced in 2021 after two decades together.
The high-powered Hollywood agent and businessman emphasized in a statement earlier this month that he "never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein," and that he was "terribly sorry for having any association with either of them."
"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.
Wasserman was appointed chairman of the LA28 organizing committee in 2017. TheUS Olympic and Paralympic Committee has since backed the Wasserman-led organizing committeedespite the emails.
Los Angeles will host the Olympics in 2028, which marks the city's first Games since 1984.
Former USWNT star Abby Wambach leaves Wasserman's agency
Several major stars have left Wasserman's agency since the emails were released. Longtime U.S. women's national team star Abby Wambach joined that group on Wednesday.
Wambach retired from the sport in 2015, and is not actually represented by Wasserman himself. Her agent, however, is part of his agency. The two-time Olympic gold medalist, who is USWNT's all-time leading scorer, also called on Wasserman to step down.
"I know what I know, and I am following my gut and my values," she wrote, in part. "I will not participate in any business arrangement under his leadership … Casey should resign. He should leave, so more people like me don't have to."
Wambach is just the latest to leave Wasserman's agency. Most notably, Grammy award winner Chappel Roan announced this week that she was leaving, too.
