- The USOPC is monitoring Casey Wasserman's involvement in Epstein files, raising concerns.
- Wasserman, head of 2028 Games, denies ties to Epstein, apologizes for emails.
- Despite calls for resignation, LA28 supports Wasserman's leadership, citing no further relationship.
LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee is "closely monitoring" the impact of Casey Wasserman, the head of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, appearing in recently released government files on Jeffrey Epstein.
That's "raised concerns across our community. We take the concerns seriously," USOPC Chair Gene Sykes told reporters Wednesday when asked what Wasserman's role with the next Olympics and Paralympics should be going forward.
"We're stewards of the Olympic and Paralympic movement in the United States, and we're committed to upholding and consistently demonstrating the values that define it," said Sykes, who led LA's successful bid for a third Summer Games.
Wasserman's name surfaced in the Epstein files made public in February, in what have been described as flirtatious email exchanges from 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a prison sentence for sex trafficking and other crimes related to Epstein's abuse of underage girls.
There have since been calls by Los Angeles politicians for Wasserman to resign as chair and president of the LA organizing committee. Wasserman has apologized for the emails, denied having a personal or business relationship with Epstein, and is selling his talent agency.
Speaking to the media after a meeting of the USOPC board, Sykes said its members have had "many discussions on this topic, and we've actively engaged and listened to our stakeholders, including athletes."
He said the USOPC's concerns have also been shared with the LA organizing committee, known as LA28.
In February, the organizing committee said in a statement that after determining Wasserman's relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond what had been publicly documented, he "should continue to lead LA28 and deliver a safe and successful Games."
Sykes said it's the organizing committee that's responsible for determining who should fill the top post. He praised other Games officials for having "continued to assemble a very strong team" that's showing progress.
"We remain very confident that that progress is both evident and very solid," Sykes said, efforts that involve "partners, athlete engagement, public support and corporate interests, all of which remain very strong and, I think, very encouraging."
The board was updated by Reynold Hoover, the LA28 CEO, and John Slusher, who holds the same title for the commercial joint venture between the organizing committee and the USOPC, not Wasserman.
The LA organizing committee had no comment about the USOPC statements, the AP reported.
