Casey Wasserman — chairman of the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LA28) — continues to come under fire as a result of his association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, even as new fallout now threatens his business empire.
The disgraced sports and entertainment executive is putting his talent and marketing firm up for sale after newly surfaced emails revealed flirtatious exchanges with Epstein associate Maxwell — leading numerous big-time clients to flee.
Wasserman told staffers at his namesake agency on Friday, February. 13, that he had “become a distraction” to the firm’s work, Rolling Stone reported.
However, the LA28 committee continue to support Wasserman.
“It’s very telling that while musicians and athletes demand Casey Wasserman be removed from their institutions, LA28 and IOC take no issue with Wasserman’s connections to human traffickers Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein,” Eric Sheehan, one of the lead organizers for the NOlympics Los Angeles campaign who has been coordinating local advocacy since 2017, tells In Touch
An investigation by Sheehan shows that between 2016 and 2019, LA28 paid two Wasserman-owned companies — LCW LLC and 247 Group LLC — $3.6 million for “travel expenses” and social media marketing. Court documents obtained by In Touch confirm Sheehan’s group’s findings.
In an undated photo, Epstein smiles as Maxwell affectionally hangs her arm around Wasserman (right).
“Casey Wasserman was on the Epstein jet about 10 times. He’s listed in Epstein’s black book,” Sheehan, a spokesman for NOlympics LA, which opposes Los Angeles hosting the Games, tells In Touch.
“City Council has never mentioned Casey Wasserman paying his own company, and I don’t think they ever will,” Sheehan tells In Touch. “He is Hollywood royalty.”
Now, California and local government officials are demanding Wasserman step down — and L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia is questioning whether the wunderkind should handle the billions needed for the Olympic event.
“Los Angeles cannot trust our financial future to someone connected with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell,” Mejia declared on X. L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn fumes, per Fox 11, “Having [Wasserman] represent us on the world stage distracts focus from our athletes and the enormous efforts needed to prepare for 2028.”
Prominent members of the LA28 Olympic committee have opted not to speak out about the allegations facing Wasserman. In a statement to NBC News, LA28’s executive committee said: “We found Mr. Wasserman’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented,” adding, “Mr. Wasserman should continue to lead LA28 and deliver a safe and successful Games.”
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass is one of many who believe Wasserman should walk away from LA28. “My opinion is, is that he should step down,” Bass told CNN on Monday, February 16, per Deadline, noting that her opinion Is not that of the LA Olympics board.
On February 11, Wasserman received a unanimous backing from the board, who he reportedly handpicked. “The committee that is involved with the Olympics has the discretion, the board made a decision,” Bass continued. “I think that decision was unfortunate.”
She added: “I don’t support the decision. I do think that we need to look at the leadership.”
Per the Los Angeles Times, Wasserman has been facing calls for his resignation amid disturbing allegations of sordid affairs, kinky romps and corruption. Demands erupted after the U.S. Department of Justice released a new tranche of Epstein files showing the then-married executive exchanging messages with Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in a federal penitentiary for sex trafficking.
In a statement via BBC, Wasserman said: “I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell which took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light.”