Olympics Chairman Named in Epstein Files Faces Resignation Call

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called for the resignation of Casey Wasserman, chairman of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee, on February 18, 2026, following reports that he exchanged emails with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.¹

Bass issued the call in a public statement released Tuesday.¹ The demand comes after disclosure of email communications between Wasserman and Epstein, though the specific content and timing of those emails were not detailed in available reports.¹

Wasserman previously stepped down from another Olympic leadership position earlier in February after emails with Ghislaine Maxwell were revealed in released files.¹

LA28 Leadership Crisis

Wasserman heads the organizing committee for the 2028 Summer Olympics scheduled for Los Angeles.¹ The LA28 committee is responsible for planning and executing all aspects of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which are set to begin in approximately two years.

The organizing committee operates as a private nonprofit under the oversight of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee. The committee has worked with city, state, and federal officials to prepare venues, logistics, and security for the games.

Bass has been involved in coordination efforts as the city’s chief executive and has represented Los Angeles in discussions with Olympic officials.

No response from Wasserman to the mayor’s statement was reported.¹ The California Globe report did not specify when the emails between Wasserman and Epstein were sent, how they were discovered, or what communications they contained.¹

Epstein Files Disclosure

Jeffrey Epstein died in federal custody in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.¹ His former associate Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in December 2021 on federal charges related to recruiting and grooming underage girls for sexual abuse.

The disclosure of Epstein’s communications and relationships has led to resignations and investigations involving prominent figures in politics, business, entertainment, and academia since the release of files in February 2026.

References

1. California Globe — “Mayor Bass Calls for Resignation of 2028 Olympics Chairman Over Epstein-Related Emails”