LA Olympics Chair Casey Wasserman Sells Agency After Epstein Email Revelations
Casey Wasserman, the prominent chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics organising committee, has announced the sale of his eponymous talent agency. This decision follows the recent public disclosure of emails exchanged between Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Email Disclosure and Agency Fallout
The emails emerged from newly released government documents pertaining to the Jeffrey Epstein case. These communications, dating back to 2003, revealed flirtatious exchanges between Wasserman and Maxwell. In one notable instance, Wasserman wrote to Maxwell, "I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?"
It is crucial to note that Wasserman has faced no allegations of criminal wrongdoing. However, the revelation has precipitated significant professional consequences. His agency, Wasserman, which represents numerous top-tier pop music artists globally, has experienced client departures. High-profile figures such as singer Chappell Roan and retired US women's soccer legend Abby Wambach have severed ties with the agency in the wake of the email disclosures.
Internal Memo and Leadership Transition
In a Friday evening memo distributed to staff, Wasserman explained his rationale for selling the company. A company spokesperson provided the memo to The Associated Press. Wasserman stated that he had become a distraction to the company's core operations and that the sale process had commenced.
The memo outlined an immediate leadership transition: "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." Wasserman expressed profound regret over the emails, describing his interactions with Maxwell and Epstein as limited and occurring years before their criminal activities were publicly known.
"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 conveyed.
LA28 Committee Review and Continued Leadership
The announcement arrived shortly after the executive committee of the LA28 board convened to discuss Wasserman's appearance in the Epstein files. The committee, in collaboration with an external legal firm, conducted a comprehensive review of Wasserman's interactions with both Epstein and Maxwell. Wasserman cooperated fully with this investigation.
Following the review, the committee issued a definitive statement: "We found Mr. Wasserman’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented." The statement further affirmed that Wasserman "should continue to lead LA28 and deliver a safe and successful games."
Wasserman has previously acknowledged a single interaction with Epstein, involving a humanitarian mission to Africa aboard Epstein's private plane in 2002, which was organised at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation. The sale of his talent agency marks a significant strategic shift as he seeks to refocus entirely on his pivotal role with the upcoming Olympic Games, aiming to mitigate the controversy surrounding the email revelations.
