The phrase “pot, meet kettle” aptly sums up the sentiment swirling around Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass this week. Angered residents have criticized the mayor’s call for Casey Wasserman, the head of the LA 2028 Olympics, to resign due to his associations with Jeffrey Epstein. They argue that Bass herself has some explaining to do.
Critics have turned the spotlight on Bass, pointing to allegations that she altered language in an after-action report on the Palisades Fire. The changes allegedly softened criticism of the city’s handling of the disastrous wildfire.
Wildfire survivor Terry Fahn expressed his frustration on social media platform X, stating, “Karen Bass engaged in a cover-up to protect herself from mistakes that contributed to the unprecedented Palisades fire disaster. If anyone should step down, it is her.”
During a CNN interview on Monday, Bass stated that Wasserman “should step down,” following reports of his unsavory communications with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s close associate.
“If anyone should step down it is her.”
Bass said during a CNN interview Monday that Wasserman “should step down,” following revelations that he salaciously corresponded with Epstein madam Ghislaine Maxwell.
“The board made a decision. I think that was unfortunate. I don’t support the decision. I do think that we need to look at the leadership,” the mayor said.
Angelenos responded by putting her own feet to the fire.
“I call on Mayor Bass to step down after her repeated failures before, during and after the Palisades fire,” wrote another X user who has been critical of the mayor’s fire response.
One of the most damning edits in the after-action report involved language acknowledging insufficient resources to “suppress a wind-driven vegetation fire,” with the department attempting to be “fiscally responsible by not fully augmenting and pre-deploying all available resources in preparation for a rare wind event.”
Bass has faced more criticism for her reported attempt to control the administration’s messaging around the Palisades Fire.
In one instance, a Los Angeles Fire Department aide advised the mayor’s office that more interviews with the fire chief “could invite a high volume of challenging questions” and would be “contingent on the Mayor’s direction,” the Los Angeles Times reported.
