The Los Angeles City Council has unanimously approved a measure urging the Olympics committee to investigate LA 2028 chief Casey Wasserman over ties to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Wasserman is facing mounting calls to leave the post after disclosures surfaced showing that he flew on Epstein’s jet and exchanged flirtatious emails with the late financier’s jailed associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, in 2003.
The resolution, while not enforceable and largely symbolic, displays the simmering discomfort in the Summer Games’ next host city over Wasserman.
The sports and entertainment executive has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and has expressed regret for the exchanges, which are from decades ago.
The city council’s resolution, adopted in a 12-0 vote, expresses “concern regarding the potential conflict between the Olympic movement’s values and Casey Wasserman’s association with the Epstein files”.
It calls for a “thorough and transparent” examination of Wasserman’s involvement with Epstein.
The LA28 executive committee announced last month that Wasserman would remain in his post after it hired an outside counsel to review any potential misconduct by Wasserman.
“We found Mr Wasserman’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented,” the committee said at the time.
After the city council vote on Friday, the board told the BBC in a statement that it had already made it’s decision on Wasserman’s future and was instead focused on moving forward with the Games.
“With the Board’s position on leadership established, LA28’s focus remains on delivering a fiscally responsible, privately funded Games that protects taxpayers and benefits Los Angeles,” the statement reads. “We are on track to deliver a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.”
The vote came amid a litany of calls for his ousting, ranging from celebrities to politicians, including the city’s mayor Karen Bass. An array of musicians and athletes represented by Wasserman’s talent firm announced they would be splitting with the agency.
In response, Wasserman announced he started the process of selling the major LA-based agency, noting he had “become a distraction”.
“I’m deeply sorry that my past personal mistakes have caused you so much discomfort,” Wasserman wrote to the agency’s 4,000 employees in the email, which was obtained by the BBC.
He continued: “It’s not fair to you, and it’s not fair to the clients and partners we represent so vigorously and care so deeply about.”
Wasserman, who is one of many prominent figures included in the millions of Epstein documents, has not been accused of wrongdoing by any of Epstein’s victims. The appearance of his name in the files does not imply criminal activity of any kind. The BBC has contacted his representatives about the city council vote.
Wasserman has previously said he “deeply regrets” his discussions with Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for facilitating the sexual abuse of teenage girls by Epstein.
He noted that his email exchanges with Maxwell “took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light,” and he never had any business dealings with Epstein.
By BBC News
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