Wasserman to sell sports and entertainment agency after Epstein file revelations

Casey Wasserman has begun the process of selling the Wasserman Group after renewed scrutiny over historic emails with Ghislaine Maxwell triggered client departures and intensified pressure on the sports and entertainment executive, who is also chair of the LA28 Olympic organising committee.In a memo to staff, Wasserman apologised for “past personal mistakes” and said: “At this moment, I believe that I have become a distraction to those efforts. That is why I have begun the process of selling the company, an effort that is already underway.”The emails, released in US Justice Department material linked to the Epstein case, included flirtatious correspondence between Wasserman and Maxwell from 2003. Wasserman has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Jeffrey Epstein, but the disclosures have led to a wave of departures from parts of the agency’s roster and prompted public calls for him to step away from leadership roles.The fallout has now reached football. Abby Wambach, the former US Women’s National Team striker and two-time Olympic gold medallist, said she has left the agency and urged Wasserman to resign. Wambach said: “I have left the Wasserman Agency. I read Casey Wasserman’s correspondences in the Epstein files. I know what I know, and I am following my gut and my values.“I will not participate in any business arrangement under his leadership. I also need to say this: I’m grateful to my agent, who I’ve known for almost 20 years and trust. Casey should resign. He should leave, so more people like me don’t have to.“I am unclear of my next steps. That’s OK with me, I just know where I can’t be.”Wambach’s exit is notable because Wasserman is a significant player in football representation, including in the women’s game. Public reporting has linked the agency to leading players such as Mallory Swanson and Naomi Girma, alongside a wider multi-sport client base.Wasserman’s sale process is not expected to change his LA28 position in the short term. LA28’s executive committee has previously backed him to remain chair after reviewing the matter, saying: “We found Mr. Wasserman’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented.”While the agency’s deal process gets under way, Wasserman has said day-to-day leadership will sit with long-time executive Mike Watts, as the firm attempts to steady operations and reassure remaining clients amid a fast-moving reputational storm.