LA Mayor Bass Urges LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman to Resign Over Epstein Files as He Sells Agency
After newly released Epstein files included his name, LA28 chair Casey Wasserman told the roughly 4,000 employees of his agency he has "begun the process of selling the company," shifting day‑to‑day control to Mike Watts as high‑profile clients including Chappell Roan and Abby Wambach defected and the LA28 organizing committee called a meeting to address his status even as the executive committee has so far publicly backed him. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass publicly urged Wasserman to step down but said she has no authority to remove him, noting only the nonprofit board that oversees the Games can replace him.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- The LA28 Organizing Committee has called a Wednesday meeting to address Casey Wasserman’s status as chairman after his name surfaced in newly released Epstein files.
- Several high-profile clients have left Wasserman’s agency amid the revelations, including pop star Chappell Roan and U.S. Soccer legend Abby Wambach, who cited values concerns.
- Wasserman told roughly 4,000 employees in an internal email that he has “begun the process of selling the company,” calling himself a “distraction,” and said day‑to‑day control will shift to Mike Watts while he focuses on delivering the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
- News reports tie the agency sale and client departures directly to backlash from the Epstein/Maxwell email revelations and place Wasserman’s decision in a broader pattern of elite careers unraveling over Epstein ties.
- Despite mounting public and commercial pressure, the LA28 executive committee has so far continued to back Wasserman as chair.
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass publicly said Wasserman “should step down,” clarified on CNN that she has no authority to fire him (only the nonprofit board can replace him), and is the highest‑ranking elected official so far to call for his resignation—contrasting with the LA28 board’s vote of confidence.
đź“° Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 17, 2026
4:34 AM
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass
New information:
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass publicly stated that Casey Wasserman 'should step down' as chair of the LA28 Olympic organizing committee.
- Bass clarified on CNN that she has no direct authority to fire Wasserman and that only the nonprofit board overseeing the Los Angeles Olympics can replace him.
- She is described as the highest‑ranking elected official so far to call for Wasserman’s resignation, directly contradicting the LA28 board’s recent vote of confidence.
February 16, 2026
5:30 PM
Epstein files end business, political careers across globe
New information:
- Axios places Wasserman’s decision in a global pattern of elite careers ending over Epstein ties, not just a one‑off case.
- The article reiterates that several high‑profile clients (e.g., Chappell Roan, Abby Wambach) have left his agency, reinforcing the commercial damage.
- It underscores that LA28’s executive committee is still backing him despite mounting public and political pressure.
February 14, 2026
1:50 PM
Casey Wasserman selling his agency amid Epstein controversy
New information:
- Wasserman told the roughly 4,000 employees of his agency via internal email that he has 'begun the process of selling the company,' saying he has become a 'distraction.'
- He said day‑to‑day control of the agency will shift to Mike Watts while he focuses on delivering the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
- The article ties the sale directly to client backlash over Epstein/Maxwell email revelations, noting that pop star Chappell Roan and U.S. Soccer legend Abby Wambach have both left the agency citing values concerns.
- Axios notes that despite calls for his removal, the LA28 executive committee has so far continued to back Wasserman as chair.
February 11, 2026
5:38 PM
LA28 Olympics Organizers to Discuss Wasserman’s Future After Epstein Fallout
New information:
- The LA28 Organizing Committee has called a Wednesday meeting specifically to address Casey Wasserman’s status as chairman.
- The meeting was prompted by Wasserman’s name surfacing in newly released Epstein files.
- A prominent artist and an athlete associated with Wasserman’s businesses have announced they are leaving his agency in recent days.
February 06, 2026