Casey Wasserman's Decision to Sell Talent Agency Amid Epstein Email Disclosure
Casey Wasserman, the chair of the LA28 Olympics, has decided to sell his talent agency following the disclosure of email exchanges related to Jeffrey Epstein. Wasserman expressed his regret in a letter to staff members, acknowledging the distraction caused by his past contact with Epstein. This development comes after Grammy winner Chappell Roan and U.S. soccer star Abby Wambach announced their departure from the agency. The LA28 executive board has expressed support for Wasserman, stating that his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell was limited to a single interaction 23 years ago.
The LA28 executive board conducted a review of Wasserman's email correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell and found that it did not extend beyond what was already publicly known. Wasserman cooperated fully with the review, and the board concluded that he should continue to lead LA28. The disclosure of the email correspondence was mandated by a law requiring the government to release files on Epstein and Maxwell. Wasserman had previously apologized for the flirtatious emails exchanged with Maxwell in 2003.
The International Olympic Committee has indicated that they will not intervene in the leadership of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Mayor Karen Bass emphasized that any decision regarding Wasserman's role should be made by the LA28 board, as they are a separate nonprofit organization. Governor Gavin Newsom, a friend of Wasserman, expressed his intention to speak with Wasserman and await the release of the remaining Epstein files.
Despite calls from some members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and city council to step down, Wasserman remains committed to leading the Olympic project. He has acknowledged his regret over the correspondence with Maxwell and clarified that he had no personal or business relationship with Epstein. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on charges related to sex trafficking and abuse of minors, while Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while facing federal charges.