Los Angeles Mayor Stands Firm on Olympic Chief Resignation Call
On Tuesday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reaffirmed her stance regarding the resignation of 2028 Olympics head Casey Wasserman.
“Just to clarify, I was asked for my thoughts, and I believe the government board’s decision was unfortunate,” she commented. “They made their choice, and as mayor, my responsibility is to ensure we host the best Olympic Games possible. Moving past that decision is important, but I still view it as bad luck,” she explained.
Mayor Bass pointed out that recent disclosures about Wasserman’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein were “not ideal.” She emphasized that her perspective was shaped by the need to prepare the city for the upcoming Summer Olympics.
“Right now, my priority is ensuring L.A. is prepared to host an event with a significant impact on the city,” she added. “In my State of the City speech, I mentioned that we are in the countdown to the Olympics, focusing also on the FIFA World Cup. It’s crucial that all neighborhoods benefit economically, socially, and culturally from the Olympics,” she stated.
While Bass refrained from discussing potential replacements for Wasserman, she expressed her desire to see the board’s decisions before finalizing her thoughts on the matter.
In an interview, she conveyed her belief that Wasserman isn’t suited to lead the Olympic Committee at this time. Wasserman has been under scrutiny lately due to emails revealing his past dealings with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate, which have surfaced recently.
She reiterated her previous opinion that Wasserman should step down. “The board’s decision was unfortunate, and I think it’s time to reevaluate the leadership,” she remarked. “However, my main focus remains on ensuring we’re ready to host what could be the greatest Olympics ever.”
Bass noted that Wasserman could not simply be relieved of his duties. The LA28 board concluded that Wasserman’s ties to Epstein and Maxwell surpassed what had been publicly known, and they opted to keep him in his position.
A board member assured the public, stating, “Mr. Casey has the board’s full support and is not going anywhere. The board operates independently.”
