LA Olympics CEO Stands Firm Behind Chair Amid Epstein Files Fallout
Reynold Hoover, the Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, has issued a strong public endorsement of Chair Casey Wasserman, affirming his unwavering support despite mounting pressure following the release of US Justice Department files connected to Jeffrey Epstein. This marks Hoover's first statement on the matter since Wasserman's name surfaced in documents published late last month, which coincided with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass calling for his resignation.
Revelations of Past Email Exchanges
The recently unsealed files disclosed "flirty email exchanges" from more than twenty years ago between Wasserman and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, a close associate of Epstein. In response, Hoover, a retired three-star US Army lieutenant general, stated, "The board has taken their position - they support him and I support him." He made these remarks a day after the conclusion of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, highlighting that the LA28 board had already reaffirmed its backing for Wasserman earlier this month.
An external counsel review concluded that Wasserman's past association with Maxwell and the late convicted sex offender Epstein did not extend beyond what had been publicly documented, reinforcing the board's decision. Wasserman himself issued a statement last month expressing regret for his correspondence with Maxwell, noting it occurred "long before her horrific crimes came to light" and maintaining he never had a personal or business relationship with Epstein.
Commercial Success and Leadership Stability
Hoover pointed to the organisation's robust commercial performance as evidence of stability under its current leadership. He emphasised, "We've got a great leadership team here at LA28. Just look at the results." The privately funded Games have exceeded $2 billion in commercial sponsorship revenue, achieving 80% of the overall $2.5 billion goal with over two years remaining until the opening ceremony. Hoover added that public interest in volunteering has been strong, stating, "We've exceeded all expectations, we've broken all Olympic records by any measure. If that doesn't give people confidence, I don't know what will."
Despite the controversy, Hoover reported no discussions about finding a replacement for Wasserman, no disruption to daily operations, and no concerns voiced by current or potential sponsors. He mentioned attending a meeting in Dallas with a potential sponsor where the issue was not raised, and LA28 is poised to announce another top-level sponsor, joining existing partners like Delta Air Lines, Honda, Google, Starbucks, Comcast, Intuit, and Korn Ferry. These sponsors did not immediately respond to requests for comment on their continued support for Wasserman.
Political Reactions and Future Focus
Hoover described his relationship with Mayor Bass as "great, very close" but admitted he was "a little surprised" when she suggested Wasserman should step down last week. He commented, "Look, that's her opinion. But she also said that the LA28 board has taken a position and is supporting Casey, so there's nothing more to really be said on it." Meanwhile, Los Angeles City Council member Monica Rodriguez has criticised the board's decision and introduced a resolution reaffirming the city's commitment to Olympic values such as excellence, respect, and integrity in leadership. The offices of Mayor Bass and Rodriguez did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Hoover's latest remarks.
Wasserman, 51, has dedicated over a decade to bringing the Games back to Southern California. Hoover affirmed their collective focus on delivering what he believes will be the largest and greatest Summer Games in history, concluding, "Milan is over, we're up next, and we are going to show the world that we can unite people around sport like no other place in the world."
