Dr. Peter Attia, a contributor for CBS News, has resigned following the release of emails revealing his past connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. His resignation took effect immediately, according to a source familiar with the situation. This decision comes shortly after Attia was introduced as part of a new team of contributors under editor in chief Bari Weiss.
The controversy erupted after the U.S. Department of Justice released millions of documents as part of the “Epstein Files Transparency Act.” Attia’s name was mentioned 1,741 times in these records, which included numerous emails exchanged between him and Epstein. Some of these communications were dated years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for procuring a child for prostitution.
Details of the Controversial Emails
Among the emails, one from 2016 included a crude joke, while another, dated 2015, contained a message where Attia expressed concern about the “outrageous” nature of Epstein’s life, writing, “You [know] the biggest problem with becoming friends with you?” The subject line of this email read “Got a fresh shipment,” although the accompanying photo was redacted. In a separate correspondence with Epstein’s assistant, Lesley Groff, Attia remarked that he would “go into JE withdrawal” if he did not see Epstein soon. These messages sparked considerable backlash online, given that they highlighted his continued contact with Epstein long after the latter’s criminal conviction.
Earlier this month, Attia publicly addressed the emails, stating that his correspondence “had nothing to do with the sexual abuse or exploitation of anyone” and that he “was not involved in any criminal activity.” He expressed regret for placing himself in a situation where “emails, some of them embarrassing, tasteless, and indefensible, are now public, and that is on me.” He acknowledged the emails were indeed “ugly” but did not attempt to downplay their significance.
Background on Peter Attia and CBS News
Before his time at CBS News, Attia gained prominence as a longevity expert, amassing over 1.7 million followers on Instagram. He was also known for his popular podcast and bestselling book focused on healthy aging. The network, along with its parent company, has not issued any immediate comments regarding his departure. Observers initially speculated that Weiss, who has publicly criticized “cancel culture,” might support Attia during this controversy. Instead, his exit occurred swiftly.
Epstein’s death in a New York City jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges cast a long shadow over the revelations surrounding him. The fallout from the recent email disclosures reflects ongoing scrutiny of public figures associated with Epstein and their past actions.
