Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged LA28 chairperson and president Casey Wasserman to resign from his position. He stated he has not considered resigning.
Justice Department documents released in February 2026 revealed that he exchanged emails with Ghislaine Maxwell in April 2003.
He said, "I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell, which took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light." He is not accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Jeffrey Epstein, while Maxwell is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence following her sex-trafficking conviction. The LA28 executive committee publicly supported him remaining in his position after an outside investigation was conducted into his past interactions with Epstein and Maxwell.
Bass said, "I cannot fire him, but I have an opinion. And my opinion is that he should step down. That’s not the opinion of the board." Wasserman said, "I talk to the mayor weekly, if not more frequently, and our conversations are between us. They continue to be thoughtful and productive with a completely shared vision on delivering the greatest Games for the city and our community."
The International Olympic Committee Coordination Commission completed its seventh visit to Los Angeles on June 4, 2026. Nicole Hoevertsz, chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for LA28, said, "This was the best CoCom ever. The team is ready. The Games are on track and the Games are in the safe hands of a very qualified and a very capable team."
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics have been designated a National Special Security Event by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This designation allows for a coordinated security response led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover stated that most 2026 World Cup venues are not designated as National Special Security Events. LA28 is also working with the U.S. State Department to address visa processing for Olympic delegations.
Visa policies for countries without U.S. diplomatic relations have been part of LA28 planning since 2017. LA28 has secured $2 billion in sponsorship and licensing agreements toward a $2.5 billion target. The organizing committee has budgeted $7.1 billion to host the Games. More than 4 million tickets were sold during the initial LA28 Olympic ticket distribution, with a second sale scheduled to begin in August 2026.