Wasserman's LA28 Role in Jeopardy! Epstein Link Triggers Outrage

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is publicly calling for Casey Wasserman to step down from his role as head of the LA28 Olympic Games, a dramatic move that throws the city's preparations into turmoil. While Bass doesn't have the direct authority to fire Wasserman, her strong statement signals a significant loss of confidence and heaps pressure on the LA28 board.

Wasserman's LA28 Role in Jeopardy! Epstein Link Tr...

“My opinion is, is that he should step down,” Bass declared on CNN this Presidents' Day. It's a blunt statement, especially considering she acknowledged the board's unanimous support for Wasserman just days earlier, on February 11th. "That's not the opinion of the board," she conceded, highlighting the political tightrope she's walking.

Bass's comments are particularly noteworthy given the backstory. Wasserman, a powerful figure in the sports and entertainment world, was initially appointed by former Mayor Eric Garcetti. But here's the kicker: Jeffrey Katzenberg, a Hollywood mogul, has been a key supporter of both Wasserman and Bass herself. Katzenberg reportedly championed Wasserman's continued leadership at a recent emergency LA28 board meeting, where the possibility of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy stepping in was even discussed. The interconnectedness of LA politics and Hollywood is on full display here.

The elephant in the room? Wasserman's previously undisclosed ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He initially downplayed his connection, claiming a 2002 humanitarian trip with Epstein, Bill Clinton, and Ghislaine Maxwell represented the full extent of their association. But, as one insider put it, he now faces a "credibility problem" with the emergence of new information. And in politics, perception is everything. It's the old saying – it's not always the initial act, but the cover-up, that gets you.

Adding fuel to the fire, Bass is facing a tougher reelection battle than many initially anticipated. And let’s be honest, Wasserman’s association with Epstein is a potential liability for her campaign. Other Los Angeles politicians, including at least one mayoral challenger, have also publicly called for Wasserman's resignation, arguing that he's become a "distraction" as the city gears up for its Olympic moment. You can see the potential campaign ads writing themselves.

“My job as mayor of Los Angeles is to make sure that our city is completely prepared to have the best Olympics that has ever happened in Olympic history,” Bass told CNN, framing her position as prioritizing the success of the Games. It's a calculated move that simultaneously appeals to the board, the International Olympic Committee, and, perhaps surprisingly, Donald Trump, another acquaintance of Wasserman. She made sure to condemn Maxwell's "abhorrent" behavior, trying to distance herself as much as possible.

"Bass is a smart operator," a source with connections to City Hall and Hollywood told Deadline. "She knows Wasserman is going to be a problem for her reelection, a problem for the Olympics, so she made her move. It's up to the board again next, but how can he go on now?" The question hanging over Los Angeles is whether the LA28 board will heed the mayor's call, or whether Wasserman can weather this storm. Only time will tell.