OLYMPICS: LA 2028 Games chief Wasserman apologises for Maxwell emails, denies Epstein ties

MILAN — Los Angeles 2028 Olympics chief Casey Wasserman has apologized for exchanging emails with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell more than 20 years ago, following the release of newly published U.S. Justice Department files.

The documents, released on Friday, relate to late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Maxwell’s former boyfriend. They include flirtatious email exchanges between Wasserman and Maxwell dating back to 2003, a period when Wasserman was married.

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty in 2021 by a New York jury on charges that included sex trafficking of a minor. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

“I never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein,” Wasserman said in a statement issued on Sunday. “I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them.”

Federal prosecutors accused Maxwell of recruiting and grooming underage girls for sexual encounters with Epstein between 1994 and 2004. She was arrested in 2020.

“I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell,” Wasserman added, saying the communication occurred before the crimes involving her and Epstein became public.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which works closely with Wasserman in preparations for the Los Angeles Games, declined to comment further on the issue.

“I believe Mr. Wasserman has put out his statement, and we have nothing further to add,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry said during a press conference ahead of next week’s Milano-Cortina Olympics.

When asked whether the email revelations could distract from the upcoming Winter Games, Coventry noted that past Olympics had also faced controversies before opening ceremonies, citing concerns over the Zika virus ahead of the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games.

“Anything that distracts from the Games is unfortunate,” Coventry said. “But over the years, there has always been something that takes attention before the Games begin. When the opening ceremony happens, the world remembers the magic and spirit of the Olympics.”

Wasserman, a sports and entertainment executive, has led the LA28 Olympic project since the bidding stage and currently serves as chairman of the organizing committee. The committee is scheduled to present a progress report at the IOC session on Tuesday.

The 2028 Summer Olympics were officially awarded to Los Angeles in 2017. -Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Nick Mulvenney and Alexandra Hudson/Reuters