Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia issued a formal legal subpoena Friday demanding that organizers of the 2028 Summer Olympics disclose comprehensive financial records, including bank statements, detailed plans for venue construction, and the scale of contracts with outside vendors.
The subpoena, executed under Mejia’s authority via the City Charter and the City Clerk’s office, arrived two and a half weeks after officials at the LA28 Olympic organizing committee rejected an earlier request for the documents. Mejia sought the records under terms established in a 2021 contract governing the working relationship between the private organizing committee and the host city.
Responding to the action, LA28 spokesperson Jacie Prieto Lopez stated Friday night that the organization had not yet received the official subpoena and could not issue a formal response. Prieto Lopez expressed disappointment over the dispute, arguing that the city was diverting time, resources, and attention away from preparations to leverage the upcoming Olympic event for local communities and the economy.
Prior to the subpoena, LA28 leaders maintained that while their annual reports omitted certain details required by the Games Agreement, they had supplied the necessary financial disclosures to designated city officials, including Mayor Karen Bass, the city administrative officer, and the chief legislative analyst.
Mejia defended the legal measure as a necessary oversight step. Asserting his responsibility to safeguard public funds, the controller stated that LA28’s refusal to comply after years of withholding contractually mandated information was unacceptable. Under the city’s agreement with the organizing committee, Los Angeles bears ultimate financial liability if the Games fail to break even. The city is obligated to cover the initial $270 million in losses, the state of California is responsible for the subsequent $270 million, and the city absorbs any financial deficit exceeding $540 million.
Because of this fiscal exposure, Mejia’s office argued that local taxpayers deserve total transparency regarding spending and revenue generation. The controller’s office stated that the requested details are critical for assessing the financial health of the upcoming Games.
The underlying dispute stems from annual reports that LA28 is contractually obligated to issue to officially designated city liaisons, which include the mayor, city attorney, and top administrative and legislative officials. Independent reviews revealed that these reports contained vague and incomplete information, notably omitting progress reports on approximately two dozen athletic venues across Greater Los Angeles and specific figures regarding service contracts exceeding $1 million, such as security agreements and pre-production work for the opening and closing ceremonies.
LA28 officials have countered that revenue collection, driven by corporate sponsorships and ticket sales, has surpassed initial projections. Organizers maintain that the Games remain financially viable and profitable, with plans to channel surplus funds into Southern California youth sports initiatives.
While the City Council has previously accepted multiple annual reports from LA28 without major pushback—even after the organization stopped publishing the names of contractors paid more than $1 million two years ago—other city figures have voiced concerns. In September, the city’s chief administrative officer and chief legislative analyst requested more granular data, characterizing existing contract disclosures as limited. At the time, LA28 resisted full disclosure, arguing that releasing specific contract details could prove financially detrimental and compromise future competitive partnerships and sponsorships.
Political backing for the controller’s enforcement action has grown among key city leaders. Mayor Karen Bass released a statement prior to the subpoena indicating her support for broader financial transparency. Meanwhile, the office of City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto confirmed Friday that she fully supports the controller’s initiative to secure the financial records required to evaluate LA28’s fiscal standing and the city’s ultimate exposure.
