LA Mayor Karen Bass calls for 2028 Olympics chief Casey Wasserman to resign
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has urged Casey Wasserman to step down as chairman of the 2028 Olympic Games following scrutiny over his past links to Ghislaine Maxwell.
Bass stated her position during a media interview on Monday, despite the organising board recently voting to keep their chairman in post.
“My opinion is that he should step down,” the Mayor told CNN.
The controversy stems from flirtatious emails sent in 2003 between the sports executive and Maxwell, which were published in US government files shortly before the Winter Games began in Milan.
IOC remains distant as pressure builds
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has largely attempted to distance itself from the scandal, insisting it remains a domestic governance issue.
Scrutiny has intensified throughout February, distracting from the opening week of the Milan Cortina Winter Games.
“I understand there are many conversations happening at this moment but I will not make any further comment,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said in Italy on Tuesday.
“This is obviously a matter for the board of LA28 still at this stage.”
Mayor criticises board decision
The LA28 board had previously backed the chairman to remain in charge following an internal review conducted by outside legal counsel.
However, the city’s political leader described that move as “unfortunate” while acknowledging she does not hold the power to fire him directly.
“I don’t support the decision. I do think that we need to look at the leadership,” Bass added.
“However, my job as mayor of Los Angeles is to make sure that our city is completely prepared to have the best Olympics that has ever happened in Olympic history.”
Both the Mayor and California Governor Gavin Newsom are viewed as critical figures in delivering the complex logistical support required for the Games in four years’ time.
Wasserman expresses regret over contact
Wasserman has been instrumental in the Los Angeles project since the bid was originally launched in 2015.
The executive has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing regarding his association with Jeffrey Epstein or his former associate.
In a statement issued prior to arriving in Milan, the organising chief addressed the emails directly.
“I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell,” Wasserman said, noting the interaction occurred “long before her horrific crimes came to light”.
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence following her 2021 conviction for sex trafficking and the abuse of minors.