Your morning catch-up: A vote of confidence for Wasserman, rampant post-fire price gouging went unpunished and more big stories.
Some in Hollywood's recording industry fumed. So did progressive politicians. But the racy messages LA28 Chairman Casey Wasserman sent more than two decades ago to convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell were not enough to cost him his job.
Unlike the Hollywood recording artists quitting Wasserman’s talent agency and agents who reportedly also want him out, the board of directors overseeing the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles largely is composed of establishment institutionalists with a decidedly different view. Many of the 34 lawyers, philanthropists, entrepreneurs and executives in control of Wasserman’s fate view the sexually charged allegations against him as dated and less serious than depicted by some. They also view the L.A. mega-agent as indispensable to pulling off a successful Summer Games. That’s the view I got from speaking to several people familiar with the inner workings of LA28, interviews I had begun just as the board’s executive committee announced Wednesday that it reviewed Wasserman’s interactions with Maxwell and her companion, fellow convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The LA28 leaders issued a statement saying Wasserman should continue with his “strong leadership” of LA28. “I don't think the emails are as damning as some people think,” one person with close ties to the Olympic organizing group said. “There was some flirting and possibly more with some woman who turned out to be a very horrible person. But what he did had nothing to do with klds, to my knowledge. Wanting to see in a leather outfit? I mean, people have their tastes. Is that shady as a husband? Definitely. But is it disqualifying from being involved in the future of the Olympics here? I don’t think so.” That individual agreed to be quoted only with the promise of anonymity, to preserve relationships with people at the Olympic organization. The source and two others with an understanding of how LA28 operates suggested that the 34 community leaders who serve on the board of directors with Wasserman also see him as crucial to landing the corporate sponsorships needed to make the Games succeed, without taxpayer subsidies. “I think there was a pragmatism involved in their thinking,” said another person close to some board members, who requested anonymity for the same reason. If Wasserman was forced out, the source said board members wondered, “then who is going to finish raising the $7 billion” needed to stage LA.’s third Olympics? The 51-year-old agent is the wealthy and connected grandson of Lew Wasserman, an agent who was a major force in the entertainment industry in the 20th century. Among those who sit on the LA28 board with him: Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, Lakers governor Jeannie Buss, construction executive George Pla, former U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and Olympic track great Allyson Felix. The individual who called Maxwell 'a very horrible person' said the board viewed Wasserman as 'the only person who can successfully bring the Olympics to fruition,' adding: 'He has dedicated a large portion of his life to getting this done. Any changes in leadership at this point could lead to a failed Games.” The statement from the LA28 executive committee said it took allegations of misconduct seriously and appointed lawyers from O’Melveny and Myers to review Wasserman’s “past interactions” with Epstein and Maxwell. “Mr. Wasserman and his then-wife flew on a humanitarian mission to Africa on Epstein’s plane at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation. This was his single interaction with Epstein,” the committee said. “We found Mr. Wasserman's relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented.” Wasserman faces another set of challenges with his eponymous agency, with performers like Chappell Roan quitting him and some within the agency reportedly calling for him to get out of the business. But those familiar with LA28’s operations had another fear, should he be forced out: that President Trump might try to fill the vacancy with his own candidate. The Los Angeles Games organizers are counting on roughly $2 billion in federal support for security and transportation and fear Trump might try to use that as leverage to play a greater role in the Games, not unlike his takeover of the Kennedy Center board in Washington, D.C. LA28 previously added former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and former Trump chief of staff Reince Preibus to the board. But they remain in a marked minority on a body dominated by Democrats. Said the source close to the LA28 operation: “If there’s an opening, I think that the president would exert himself.” The Los Angeles City Council recently authorized $191,000 in funding to pay for the police department’s new “director of internal communication.”Police officials have tried to keep the name of their preferred candidate for the job under wraps.A consulting agreement from an Oscar-winning filmmaker said he would help “bring some luster back to the badge” at the LAPD.A report found 18,360 potential price-gouging cases after the fires, but enforcement has been minimal with only 12 lawsuits filed so far.Gov. Gavin Newsom’s price-gouging restrictions cap rent increases at 10%, yet some landlords raised rents by more than 100% after the fires.As much as $49 million in rent may have been illegally collected, with 42% of price-gouging listings concentrated in areas where fire victims relocated.County supervisors are considering a proposal that changes who gets final decision-making power in contract disputes involving public safety workers.The supervisors voted 4 to 0 to have lawyers draft a measure they want to appear on the November ballot.Opponents say it could lead to bloated labor costs and would cede too much power over the county budget.'This kidnapping violates all the rules': Why cracking the Nancy Guthrie case has been so hard.A UCLA professor’s emails to Epstein stir protest as academia is jolted by links to the sex abuser.Nithya Raman declared 'Defund the police.' Now she says L.A. shouldn’t lose more cops.Nine inmate deaths already this year bring renewed scrutiny of L.A. County jail conditions.Illegal cannabis farms are poisoning California’s forests, experts say.James Van Der Beek, 'Dawson’s Creek' and 'Varsity Blues' star, has died at 48.If he had any other job, Trump would have been fired by now, columnist Jackie Calmes writes.Trump’s deportations are losing him the 'Mexican Beverly Hills, argues columnist Gustavo Arellano.Newsom has the power to stop ICE from wearing masks, but it comes with a risk, writes columnist Anita Chabria.'Wuthering Heights,' is a bold, filthy fantasy — but these moors need more erotic heat, film critic Amy Nicholson writes.L.A.'s plant community remembers Jeanette Marantos, an ally 'with dirt under her fingernails.'Britney Spears sold the rights to her music catalog for approximately $200 million.What Oscar history predicts for this year’s best picture nominees.Dining: Cheesy breads headline big Georgian flavors at this tiny Valley cafe.Immersive theater: At Catch One, a funk concert transports you to 1974 — and it’s immersive theater at its finest.Television: Watch Paramount+'s new series 'Can You Keep a Secret?' make light of insurance fraud.🥗 Here's a recipe for Cantonese Chinese New Year Dumplings. ✏️ Get our free daily crossword puzzle, sudoku, word search and jigsaw games. On Feb. 12, 2008, the 100-day Writers Guild of America strike, which halted production on numerous Hollywood films and television shows, officially ended. The Times wrote about the strike's winners and losers in February of that year. Jim Rainey, staff reporter Hugo Martín, assistant editor, fast break desk Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor Andrew Campa, weekend writer Karim Doumar, head of newsletters How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com. Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
LA28 issues statement in support of 2028 Olympics chair Casey WassermanThe LA28 executive committee issued a statement Wednesday expressing support for chair Casey Wasserman
Read more »
LA28 Olympics Committee backs embattled Casey Wasserman over Epstein filesAs Casey Wasserman faces growing fallout over his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the leaders of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics announced Wednesday that it had reviewed Wasserman's past conduct and determined he should continue to serve as chair of LA28.
Read more »
LA28 board supports Casey Wasserman amid Epstein file revelationsCasey Wasserman is keeping his job leading the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after the LA28 board reviewed his past Jeffrey Epstein-linked contacts. The board’s executive committee met Wednesday to discuss his appearance in newly released government files.
Read more »
Casey Wasserman will continue to lead LA28 after review of Epstein-related allegations, board saysThe LA28 board reviewed Wasserman's involvement in recently released Jeffrey Epstein files.
Read more »
LA28 board says Wasserman will remain head of LA Olympics amid scrutiny over Epstein filesis a general assignment reporter. She covers the news that shapes Los Angeles and how people change the city in return.
Read more »
LA28 Olympics committee backs chairman Casey Wasserman amid Epstein scrutinyThe LA28 executive committee issued a statement Wednesday expressing support for 2028 Olympics chair Casey Wasserman.
Read more »