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West Hollywood unanimously urges LA28 chair Casey Wasserman to step down amid Epstein‑related concerns
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Summary
After survivor advocates urged action, the council unanimously approved a resolution calling on Casey Wasserman to resign as chair of LA28, citing his past association with Ghislaine Maxwell and concerns the relationship creates a distraction for survivors and athletes.
The West Hollywood City Council on a unanimous vote approved a resolution urging Casey Wasserman to step down as chair of the Los Angeles 2028 organizing committee. The move followed public testimony from survivors and advocacy groups who said Wasserman’s association with Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein is a distraction and painful for survivors.
Speakers from survivor and advocacy organizations framed the issue as one of moral leadership. “Wasserman's mere presence in LA28 serves as a painful reminder of the abuse and all of the ways that those involved have escaped accountability,” said a representative of Survivors.org during public comment. Another speaker asked the council to demonstrate principled leadership by calling for his resignation.
Council members balanced a concern for due process with survivor safety and the potential for sustained distraction during Olympic preparations. Council Member Meister and others asked for language that emphasized due process while acknowledging the concerns; several council members said the weight of the association makes his continued leadership untenable. “He has not committed a crime, but I do not want any association with the Olympics and a person who has emails between Ghislaine Maxwell and anyone with ties to Jeffrey Epstein,” Council Member Erickson said during deliberations.
The resolution does not allege criminal wrongdoing by Wasserman; instead it calls on him to step down because the council concluded his presence is a distraction and harmful to athletes and survivors. The resolution passed unanimously.
What’s next: The resolution is a formal statement from the City of West Hollywood urging resignation; it may add pressure to the LA28 leadership conversation but has no direct enforcement mechanism.
