Casey Wasserman, the chair for the LA28 Olympics committee, got here below strain to step down as his emails with convicted intercourse offender Ghislaine Maxwell surfaced within the Epstein recordsdata.
LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who’s working with the LA28 Olympics committee, referred to as for Wasserman to step down, blasting his Epstein recordsdata controversy as a “distraction.”
“I believe Casey Wasserman must step down,” Hahn stated in an announcement. “Having him symbolize us on the world stage distracts focus from our athletes and the large effort wanted to arrange for 2028.”
Los Angeles Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez expressed an analogous sentiment Tuesday, claiming that Wasserman’s presence as chair “undermines” planning efforts.
“Concurrently Ghislaine Maxwell was orchestrating one of the crucial infamous intercourse trafficking operations in our nation’s historical past, she was allegedly romantically concerned with the individual now serving as Chair of LA28,” Soto-Martínez acknowledged. “Casey Wasserman ought to step apart instantly. Something much less is a distraction and undermines efforts to verify the Video games really replicate the values of a metropolis that’s for everybody.”
Lindsey Horvath, a Los Angeles county supervisor, expressed empathy for the victims, including that the discharge of the Epstein recordsdata was meant to immediate “motion.”
“LA28 has lauded the chance of getting extra girls take part within the Olympic and Paralympic Video games than ever earlier than in historical past,” Horvath added. “What does that imply when the group is led by an intimate good friend of a convicted human trafficker? Now could be the time for LA28 to show how a lot they really worth girls.”
Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez additionally issued an announcement on the controversy, writing, “The Olympic and Paralympic Video games symbolize each an incredible alternative and massive accountability, requiring us to be a reputable steward of video games that unite, encourage and symbolize one of the best of humanity.”
Her assertion continued: “These usually are not empty beliefs. The failure to finish a sturdy Human Rights plan, coupled with the revelations from the newly launched Epstein recordsdata makes clear that nobody related to Epstein and his associates can present credible management within the planning of those video games, which now contains Casey Wasserman.”
A consultant for Wasserman didn’t instantly reply to TheWrap’s request for remark.
