Dr Peter Attia has resigned as a contributor to CBS News following the public release of correspondence between him and convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The development comes less than a month after Attia was announced as one of several new contributors as part of a wider overhaul of the network’s news division.
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The disclosure of more than three million files linked to a federal investigation into Epstein included messages exchanged with Attia during the mid-2010s, after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for prostitution offences involving a minor. The emails suggested a friendly relationship, with Epstein at times seeking medical advice, and included at least one exchange described as crude and inappropriate.
In response, Attia issued a public apology, acknowledging that some of the emails were “embarrassing, tasteless and indefensible”. He stated that he had not been involved in any criminal activity and said his interactions with Epstein were unrelated to abuse or exploitation. Attia also stepped down from his role as chief science officer at a nutrition company following the release of the files.
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CBS News later confirmed that Attia had withdrawn from his contributor position before it had formally begun, citing concerns about becoming a distraction from the organisation’s work. Attia remains host of a popular health podcast and author of a best-selling book on longevity, but has indicated he will make no further comment at this time.
