Wasserman has come under fire after the release of racy exchanges with Ghislaine Maxwell.
MILAN — The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee chose not to put further pressure on LA28 organizing committee chairman Casey Wasserman amid calls for his resignation over flirty emails he exchanged with Jeffrey Epstein associate and convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell.
When asked during a Thursday news conference how concerned he is about the situation, USOPC chair Gene Sykes referenced the statement Wasserman released last Saturday saying that he deeply regretted his correspondence with Maxwell.
“We have nothing to add to that statement,” Sykes said. “It sort of stands on its own.”
Sykes then pivoted to expressing his trust in the Wasserman-led organizing committee responsible for paying for, planning and delivering Los Angeles’ first Olympics since 1984
“I have more confidence today in LA2028’s operational capabilities, its leadership, the quality of what it’s doing and how well it has executed than I have at any point in time,” Sykes said.
The series of Spring 2003 emails between Wasserman and Maxwell were among the millions of Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice last Friday. In one exchange, Maxwell tells Wasserman that she’d thought of him “at inappropriate moments.” Responded Wasserman, “I think of you all the time… So what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit? I am in NY tonight, youre not, what am I to do?”
Weeks later, Wasserman emailed Maxwell that he’s returning to New York City soon and asks, “Can we book that massage soon?” The following day, Wasserman wrote, “I thought we would start at that place that you know of, and then continue the massage concept into your bed…and then again in the morning…not sure if or when we would stop.”
Wasserman was married to Laura Ziffren Wasserman at the time. The high-powered Hollywood agent and businessman divorced his wife in 2021 after two decades of marriage.
"I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell which took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light," Wasserman said in his statement on Saturday.
He also emphasized that he had "never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein".
"I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them," Wasserman added.
Wasserman was originally appointed chairman of the LA28 organizing committee in 2017 by then-Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetiti. Since the release of the emails with Maxwell, a handful of Los Angeles-area politicians have called for Wasserman to step down from that position.
Wasserman appears to still have the backing of not just the USOPC but the International Olympic Committee as well.
During a press conference in Milan earlier this week, IOC Vice President Nicole Hoevertsz said she had "full trust" in Wasserman and the entire LA28 team.
Category: General Sports
