Dr. Peter Attia has stepped down from his role as a CBS News contributor following the emergence of over 1,700 mentions of him in newly published files related to Jeffrey Epstein, as confirmed by Fox News Digital on Monday.
Attia, known for his expertise in longevity, joined CBS News on January 27, shortly before connections to Epstein came to light. His tenure lasted just a few days before these associations were brought to public attention.
A spokesperson for Attia shared that “his role as a contributor is still in its early stages.” To not disrupt CBS’s ongoing work, he decided to step back. He wishes the network success but is not commenting further.
Attia and Epstein exchanged various emails, wherein Attia made some flippant remarks. For instance, he jokingly referred to female anatomy as “low-carbohydrate.” In another email, he mentioned that the largest challenge in their friendship was that his life was too “outrageous” to share with his “soul.” There was also a peculiar email about a “fresh package received.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Attia has informed CBS of his immediate resignation, which the network confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Attia has previously taken to social media to clarify his standing. He asserted, “1. I am not engaged in any illegal activities. 2. My interactions with Epstein have no connection to his abusive actions. 3. I have never traveled on his plane, visited his island, or attended any of his parties.” However, he acknowledged feeling remorseful for the embarrassing nature of some of his emails being made public, accepting the responsibility that comes with it.
In a detailed post on X, Attia addressed the “email thread” that seems to have attracted the most scrutiny. He recounted that in June 2015, he sent Epstein an email, joking about a prescription drug, and received an inappropriate response. He expressed regret over that exchange, admitting he finds it embarrassing now, even though he didn’t perceive it as harmful at the time.
Attia met Epstein in 2014 but reiterated that he didn’t visit his infamous locations or partake in any of his well-known activities.
In November, the Epstein File Transparency Act was enacted, requiring the government to disclose all non-classified documents concerning Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s trafficking case within 30 days. This bill was signed into law by former President Donald Trump.
