LA Olympics chief Wasserman issues Maxwell apology, but denies Epstein ties

Los Angeles 2028 Olympics Chief Apologizes for Maxwell Emails Amid Epstein Ties Denial

Casey Wasserman, the president of the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympics, has apologized for exchanging flirtatious emails with Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex trafficker and former girlfriend of late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The apology comes amid growing scrutiny over Wasserman's past associations with Epstein.

According to newly released US Department of Justice files, the email exchanges between Wasserman and Maxwell dated back to 2003, when Wasserman was married. The emails, which were published on Friday, showed a close personal connection between the two despite Wasserman's claims of not having had any business or personal relationship with Epstein.

Wasserman stated in a statement that he "never had a personal or business relationship" with Epstein and expressed remorse for his association with Maxwell. However, the US Department of Justice files include records of Maxwell recruiting and grooming girls for sex encounters with Epstein between 1994 and 2004.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) refused to comment on the matter, stating that Wasserman had made a statement and they had nothing further to add. IOC President Kirsty Coventry acknowledged that past Olympics have been marred by controversy before their start, but expressed confidence in the organization's ability to move forward despite distractions.

Wasserman, a sports and entertainment executive, has been leading the LA28 Olympic project since its bidding phase and currently serves as chairman of the organizing committee. The 2028 Summer Olympics were awarded to Los Angeles in 2017, and Wasserman's role in the games is being closely watched amid this latest controversy.

As the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina Olympics approaches, Coventry expressed her faith that the games would capture the world's attention and remind everyone of the "magic and spirit" of the Olympics. However, for many, the Wasserman-Maxwell email scandal raises questions about the organization's ability to effectively navigate controversies before its own Games.

I mean come on . This is a huge mess for the IOC and LA28. I'm not saying Casey Wasserman did anything wrong, but how could he not know about Maxwell's shady past? And what's with these "apologies" that are just a PR stunt ? It's like they're trying to sweep it under the rug. And don't even get me started on Kirsty Coventry's response - "controversies before their start"? Give me a break . The Olympics are all about unity and fair play, not covering up your own dirty secrets. Can we just have some transparency for once?

I don't think this apology is enough, you know? Wasserman's been leading the LA28 Olympic project and now he's got ties to Epstein, which is pretty shady if you ask me . He says he never had a personal or business relationship with Epstein, but those email exchanges between him and Maxwell are super suspicious. I mean, what were they talking about all those years ago? It's not like Wasserman was just being friendly...

And let's be real, the IOC is just trying to sweep this under the rug . They're trying to focus on the positives and remind us of the "magic and spirit" of the Olympics, but for those of us who care about accountability, it's hard to ignore these shady connections .

I wish Wasserman had been more transparent from the start and not tried to downplay his association with Maxwell . Now, I'm not saying he's guilty or anything, but come on, be honest for once!

I'm shocked that this is still happening in 2025. It's like we're reliving the same mistakes over and over. I mean, come on, a convicted sex trafficker? That's not something you can just apologize your way out of. Wasserman needs to do more than just say sorry, he needs to explain why he was so close to her back in 2003...

I'm not surprised to hear that LA 2028 Olympics chief Casey Wasserman got caught up in this mess . Those emails from Ghislaine Maxwell are super sketchy and it's wild he thought he could just brush it off all these years later . It's like, don't pretend you're above the whole Epstein drama when there are receipts . Wasserman's apology is probably a good first step, but I'm not sure it'll be enough to shake off the bad vibes surrounding this whole thing . The IOC should've been more transparent from the start and now we're left wondering what other skeletons might be hiding in their closet .

I'm like totally confused about this whole thing. Like, how could someone apologize for exchanging flirtatious emails with a convicted sex trafficker and still be in charge of hosting the Olympics? Wasserman's got some 'splainin' to do. And what's up with the IOC not commentin' on this? They're like "oh, we've said our piece" . I mean, I get it, controversies can happen before the Games, but still, this is a whole other level of gross. Like, how are they gonna shake off this scandal and still make the Olympics look all magical and stuff? The public's got to be asked what's good with Wasserman runnin' the show...

I'm really disappointed in this whole situation with Casey Wasserman and his emails with Ghislaine Maxwell. Like, how could he not know who she was or what she was involved in back then? It's not like it's a secret or anything. And now that all these emails have come out, he's apologizing and trying to distance himself from Jeffrey Epstein... I don't know, man.

I think the IOC is being kinda shady too. They're just saying Wasserman made a statement and they've got nothing else to say? That doesn't really answer any questions or provide any clarity on what's going on. And Kirsty Coventry just brushing it off like it's no big deal... it's not cool, you know?

I'm all for moving forward and focusing on the Olympics, but this stuff needs to be addressed. We need to know more about Wasserman's past associations with Epstein and how they're being handled. It's not just about the Olympics; it's about accountability and transparency.

Wow , this is crazy! Wasserman was so into Maxwell back in 2003 but like totally denied any connections to Epstein now? Interesting how Wasserman's role as Olympics chair has him under a microscope and the whole world watching his every move...this is gonna be a wild ride for LA28!

omg can u blv how messed up this is? the IOC is trying to brush it off like it's no big deal but it's super sus. like, Wasserman has been leading the LA28 Olympics and they're all about being "inclusive" and "responsible" but now we find out he was emailing with Ghislaine Maxwell and that's just plain crazy I mean what else did he know? were they planning on colluding or something? the IOC is trying to say Wasserman has apologized but it feels like an empty gesture at this point. they need to be more transparent about their relationships and connections...it's not just Wasserman, what about all the other ppl involved in the Olympics?

Ugh, can't believe this is happening again ... Like, I get it, Wasserman didn't know about Maxwell's past at the time and all that, but come on, 20+ years of knowing her and still being friends? Red flags right from the start . And to make matters worse, he's in charge of the whole LA28 Olympics thing... How can we trust him to handle stuff when his own personal life is like a hot mess . The IOC needs to step up their game and be more transparent about these kinds of issues before they become major distractions during the games .

idk how the IOC can just ignore this wasserman's emails with maxwell are a major red flag and it's wild he got away with saying they were nothin' more than flirty emails i mean come on, maxwell was recruiting girls for epstein's sex ring between 1994-2004 that's not just 'personal connection', that's creepy and we're supposed to believe wasserman had no idea? it's like he's tryin' to play dumb the IOC needs to take responsibility for vetting their staff better

OMG this is so sad ...the whole thing just feels so awkward and unprofessional. I mean, Wasserman knew Maxwell was involved with Epstein, but he never thought twice about her emails being kinda flirtatious? And now it's coming out that he never even broke up with her or cut ties, it's like he just glossed over the whole thing. The IOC is trying to spin this as a non-issue, but I'm not buying it ...I think this scandal could really tarnish the 2028 Olympics' reputation and make people wonder if they're really worth attending.

I'm really disappointed in this whole situation, you know? As someone who loves sports, it's disheartening to see the Olympics being dragged down by past associations and controversies. But at the same time, I get why Wasserman is apologizing - he's owning up to his mistakes and acknowledging that he was close to Maxwell despite knowing about Epstein's issues.

I think the IOC should've been more proactive in addressing this issue from the start, but I guess that's not how it works. The fact remains that Wasserman has been leading the LA28 Olympic project for years now, and this revelation comes out of nowhere. It raises some serious questions about whether he was ever fully on board with the IOC's standards and values.

I wish everyone involved could just move forward and focus on the positives - like bringing people together through sports and promoting unity among nations

I'm kinda surprised by this whole thing... seems like Wasserman was already pretty open about not having any connections with Epstein, but these emails from 2003 still came as a shock. It's like he thought they'd never see the light of day. What's even more concerning is that his team knew about Maxwell's history and didn't say anything. Transparency is key in situations like this... we need to know what Wasserman and his team knew, when they knew it.

I do love how Kirsty Coventry just brushed off the whole thing with a comment about past Olympics being marred by controversy. It's a slippery slope, though - if everyone just dismisses problems, then who's gonna hold people accountable? Not sure what the outcome of this will be yet...

Wow Those emails are crazy! I'm so glad Wasserman is owning up to his mistake and apologizing. I mean, it's not like he was trying to hide anything or protect Epstein. It's all coming out now, and people need to know the truth about Maxwell and her involvement with Epstein. Interesting

I mean... I'm just trying not to think about it too much , but come on, 2003? That was like, forever ago! Wasserman's apology feels kinda late in the game, you know? I get that he didn't have any direct dealings with Epstein, but still, the connection to Maxwell is pretty sketchy. I'm just hoping the Olympics can stay focused on what it's all about: bringing people together and promoting peace and unity . The IOC is trying to move forward, and that's good, but you gotta wonder if this whole thing will affect the Games' vibe in LA. Fingers crossed it won't be a major distraction!

OMG I'm still trying to wrap my head around this ! Like, I get it, we've all made mistakes in the past, but come on, Casey Wasserman! How could you not know about Ghislaine Maxwell's history? And now he's apologizing for these flirty emails from way back when... like, 2003 ! It's just so weird. I feel bad for him, but also, the IOC should've been more on top of this stuff from the beginning

Anyway, I'm not gonna sit here and judge (too harshly ) 'cause we all make mistakes right? But it's like, how are they going to fix this now that it's out in the open? Can't wait for the 2028 Olympics to come around though... fingers crossed they'll be drama-free

this is really sad, i can imagine how Wasserman must be feeling right now. he seems like a good guy who didn't realize what Maxwell was involved in back then. 2003 is ages ago and people change over time. maybe it's not about being friends with someone because of their association but more about not knowing the full extent of what they're involved in at the time. its really unfortunate that this is coming up now, just days before the Milano-Cortina Olympics. i hope Wasserman can bounce back from this and still lead his team to a successful 2028 Olympics.

.. can you believe this? I mean, I'm glad they're apologizing and all, but it's just soooo weird . Like, what were these two even thinking? Wasserman gets married in 2003 and then has these flirtaties with Maxwell? And she's known associates with Epstein too? It's like, how could you not know about the whole Epstein thing? I mean, it's been all over the news for years.

And now they're gonna have to deal with this during the Olympics? That's just crazy . I don't know if I can even watch this Games anymore . The IOC is trying to downplay it, but I think we should be asking more questions about how Wasserman ended up in this position in the first place .

It's like, what happened back in 2003? Was he naive or just oblivious? And now that it's out, can you imagine what else might come crawling out of the woodwork? It's a mess, man. A big ol' mess

man... this is like, what even is the definition of 'distance' anymore? Wasserman says he never had a personal or business relationship with Epstein, but those emails... they're like, super intimate, you know? And now we know Maxwell was recruiting and grooming girls for sex encounters with Epstein... it's hard to see how Wasserman can just apologize and move on. It's like, where's the accountability?

I'm thinking about how power dynamics play out in these situations... like, Wasserman's in a position of authority, but he's also got connections to someone who was involved in some pretty shady stuff. And now he's apologizing for his association with Maxwell, but it feels like that's just glossing over the whole issue.

It makes me wonder what we're really looking for when we have these kinds of scandals... is it just a pat on the back and a 'move forward' message, or are we actually trying to hold people accountable?