Dr. Peter Attia has stepped aside from a newly created contributor role at CBS News after emails between him and Jeffrey Epstein were made public. His name appears over 1,700 times in a DOJ document release of roughly 3 million files. Attia denied criminal wrongdoing on X, apologized for what he called "crude, tasteless banter," and resigned as chief science officer of David Protein, where he had invested in a $10 million seed round.
Peter Attia Withdraws From CBS Contributor Role After Epstein Email Revelations
Newly-released documents from disgraced late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, referencing court cases against him, are seen in this handout released by the U.S. Justice Department and printed and arranged for a photograph by Reuters in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 19, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
NEW YORK, Feb 23 (Reuters) — Dr. Peter Attia, a prominent figure in longevity medicine, has stepped aside from a newly created contributor role at CBS News, a network spokesperson said on Monday. The move comes roughly three weeks after his email exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein became public.
Files, Response and CBS Role
Attia's name appears more than 1,700 times in the trove of documents — part of a roughly 3 million‑document release by the U.S. Department of Justice on Jan. 30. A representative for Attia said the contributor position had been newly established and "had not yet meaningfully begun," adding that he stepped back so his association would not distract from the network's work. "He wishes the network and its leadership well and has no further comment at this time," the spokesperson said.
Attia was named a CBS contributor on Jan. 27 as part of Editor‑in‑Chief Bari Weiss' restructuring plan, which added 19 contributors and sought to bring a "streaming mentality" to the network. CBS News is part of Paramount Global.
Public Remarks And Email Excerpts
Attia appeared in an October segment of CBS' "60 Minutes," where he was described as "both a pioneer and a star in the growing field of longevity medicine." On Feb. 2, Attia posted on X (formerly Twitter) denying any involvement in criminal activity while apologizing for the tone of the email exchanges, calling them "crude, tasteless banter."
In a 2015 message quoted from the files, Attia wrote: "The biggest problem with becoming friends with you? The life you lead is so outrageous, and yet I can't tell a soul..."
In a 2016 email, using Epstein's initials, Attia wrote: "I go into JE withdrawal when I don't see him."
Aftermath
Jeffrey Epstein, a multimillionaire who socialized with elite figures, was convicted in 2008 on charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution and died by suicide in 2019. The Hollywood Reporter first reported Attia's break with CBS News.
Attia has already faced additional professional fallout following the disclosures. On Feb. 2, the founder of protein‑bar maker David Protein said on X that Attia had resigned as the company's chief science officer. Attia was an investor in David Protein and participated in its $10 million seed funding round in August 2024.
(Reporting by Helen Coster in New York; Editing by Ethan Smith)
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