Casey Wasserman, chairman of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee (LA28), announced Friday he is initiating the sale of his talent agency, Wasserman, following the release of documents detailing past interactions with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
In a memo to staff, Wasserman stated he had become a “distraction” to the agency’s operate and apologized for the discomfort caused by his past “personal mistakes.” He said the process of selling the company is already underway. Mike Watts, currently the agency president, will assume day-to-day control during the transition, allowing Wasserman to focus on his role with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The decision follows mounting scrutiny after the recent publication of files related to the Epstein investigation, which included emails between Wasserman and Maxwell dating back to 2003. Wasserman had previously characterized his relationship with Epstein as limited to a single instance – a flight on Epstein’s plane in 2003 to Africa at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation for a humanitarian mission – and acknowledged exchanging emails with Maxwell shortly thereafter.
Despite the controversy, the LA28 executive committee last week voted unanimously to retain Wasserman as chairman. The committee stated it conducted a review, with the assistance of outside legal counsel, and found Wasserman’s interactions with Epstein and Maxwell “did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented.” The committee affirmed its commitment to a “safe and successful Games” under Wasserman’s leadership.
Wasserman has expressed regret over his communications with Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking crimes. He has maintained he was unaware of the extent of their criminal activity at the time of their interactions.
Several clients of Wasserman’s agency have publicly severed ties in response to the revelations. Former US women’s national soccer team star Abby Wambach announced her departure from the agency on Instagram, calling for Wasserman to resign and stating she could not continue to work with him. Singer Chappell Roan too ended their relationship with the agency.
Wasserman’s agency represents numerous high-profile athletes and entertainers, and has expanded significantly through acquisitions in recent years, offering a wide range of services including event creation, public relations, and contract negotiation.
