Casey Wasserman, the prominent figure leading the Los Angeles Olympics organising committee, has issued a public statement expressing profound regret over historic email correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell. The messages, dating back to 2003, have emerged in the latest government document release concerning the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Revelations from the Epstein Files
The newly disclosed emails, made public on Friday as mandated by legislation requiring transparency around Epstein and his associates, reveal a series of personal exchanges between Wasserman and Maxwell. Among the communications is one where Wasserman tells Maxwell, "I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?"
Further messages include an April 2003 email from Maxwell to Wasserman, who was married at the time, offering a massage that could "drive a man wild". Another exchange discusses the possibility of foggy weather during a visit, with Maxwell inquiring whether conditions would allow Wasserman to "float naked down the beach and no one can see you unless they are close up?" Wasserman's reply was simply, "or something like that."
Wasserman's Public Apology
In a statement released on Saturday, Wasserman addressed the correspondence directly, stating, "I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell," emphasising that it occurred "long before her horrific crimes came to light." He further clarified, "I never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. As is well documented, I went on a humanitarian trip as part of a delegation with the Clinton Foundation in 2002 on the Epstein plane. I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them."
Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on five counts of sex trafficking and abuse of minors, for which she is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail cell in August 2019, shortly after being indicted on federal sex-trafficking charges.
Background and Broader Context
Casey Wasserman is a significant figure in both sports and entertainment, having built a successful agency representing top athletes in football, basketball, and baseball, alongside high-profile actors such as Adam Sandler and Brad Pitt. Recently, he has gained increased public attention as the leading force behind the Los Angeles Olympics effort, with his lobbying instrumental in securing the 2028 Summer Games for the United States.
This marks the first summer Olympics in the US since Atlanta 1996, with Los Angeles having previously hosted in 1984. In his personal life, Wasserman divorced his wife of 20 years, Laura Ziffren Wasserman, in 2021. The release of these emails adds a complex layer to his public profile as he continues to spearhead one of the world's most anticipated sporting events.
