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LA28 Chairman Casey Wasserman to Sell Talent Agency Amidst Epstein File Revelations
Los Angeles, CA – Casey Wasserman, the prominent chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics organizing committee, has announced his intention to sell his namesake talent agency following the public release of emails between himself and Ghislaine Maxwell. The decision comes in the wake of Wasserman’s appearance in recently unsealed government documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
While Wasserman, whose agency represents some of the music industry’s biggest stars, has not been accused of any wrongdoing, the documents revealed flirtatious email exchanges with Maxwell dating back to 2003. Maxwell was later convicted of facilitating Epstein’s recruitment and abuse of victims.
In a memo circulated to his staff on Friday evening, a company spokesperson confirmed Wasserman’s move to divest from the agency, stating he felt he had become a “distraction” to its operations. “During this time, Mike Watts will assume day-to-day control of the business while I devote my full attention to delivering Los Angeles an Olympic Games in 2028 that is worthy of this outstanding city,” the memo read.
The internal communication arrived just days after the LA28 board’s executive committee convened to discuss Wasserman’s inclusion in the Epstein files. Following a review conducted by the committee and an external legal firm, with Wasserman’s full cooperation, they issued a statement asserting, “We found Mr.
Wasserman’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented.” The committee concluded that Wasserman “should continue to lead LA28 and deliver a safe and successful games.”
Despite calls from some Los Angeles leaders for Wasserman’s resignation, International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice President Nicole Hoevertsz publicly expressed “full trust” in Wasserman and his team during a press conference last week. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, in her own statement, deferred to the board’s decision.
Wasserman has previously stated that his contact with Epstein was limited to a humanitarian trip to Africa in 2002, taken on Epstein’s private plane at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation. However, the recently unveiled exchanges with Maxwell include a notable email where Wasserman wrote, “I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?”
The fallout from these revelations has already impacted Wasserman’s agency, with clients such as singer Chappell Roan and retired U.S. women’s soccer icon Abby Wambach reportedly severing ties.
In his memo to staff, Wasserman reiterated that his interactions with Maxwell and Epstein were minimal and expressed deep regret for the emails. “It was years before their criminal conduct came to light, and, in its entirety, consisted of one humanitarian trip to Africa and a handful of emails that I deeply regret sending. And I’m heartbroken that my brief contact with them 23 years ago has caused you, this company, and its clients so much hardship over the past days and weeks,” the memo stated.
This sentiment echoes an earlier apology issued this month, where 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.” He also clarified in that statement that he “never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.”