Peter Attia Resigns from Network Contributor Role After Epstein Files Reveal Communications

Controversial longevity expert Dr. Peter Attia has resigned his post as a contributor to the network after correspondence between him and convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was made public. peter attia had been added to the network's roster less than a month earlier as part of an editorial overhaul, and his departure follows the release of a large set of files tied to a federal investigation.

Peter Attia's Resignation and Initial Coverage

Initial coverage first broke the news of the resignation. Attia was announced less than a month ago as one of 19 new contributors to the network, part of editor-in-chief Bari Weiss's effort to overhaul the news division. He joined the network just a few days before over 3m files were released as part of the federal government’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

Communications Found in the Epstein Files

The released files included multiple instances of communication between Attia and Epstein, most of them from the mid-2010s. Those messages arrived after Epstein had already pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges involving a minor. The correspondence shows a congenial tone, with Epstein sometimes seeking medical advice from Attia. In one exchange from 2016, Attia made a crude insinuation about female genitalia being "low carb. " The nature and timing of the messages were central to the public reaction that followed.

Apology, Corporate Exit, and Clarifications

After the file disclosure, Attia wrote a lengthy apology on social media and shared the same note with his team and patients. He also stepped down from his role as chief science officer for David, a protein bar company, in the aftermath of the files' release. In his statement he apologized and expressed regret for placing himself in a position where emails that he described as embarrassing, tasteless and indefensible were now public, accepting the humiliation that followed.

Attia additionally clarified that he was not involved in any criminal activity and that his interactions with Epstein had nothing to do with sexual abuse or exploitation of anyone. He stated he had never been on Epstein's plane and had never visited Epstein's island.

Network Reaction and Internal Communications

Network insiders were unhappy that leadership had not moved more quickly to remove Attia after the files were released. An executive circulated a list of the network's new contributors with points of contact; Attia's name was omitted from that list. The resignation itself was disclosed in an email to employees in the booking department of the network on Monday.

A spokesperson for Attia described the contributor role as newly established and not yet meaningfully begun. The spokesperson said Attia stepped back to ensure his involvement would not become a distraction from the network's work, that he wished the network and its leadership well, and that he had no further comment.

Public Work and Professional Profile

Attia is the host of the podcast The Peter Attia Drive and the author of the bestseller Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity. The developments around the released files have already affected his public and corporate roles, and the fallout has prompted internal scrutiny inside the network and separate corporate departures tied to the disclosures.

Details remain confined to the material released in the files and the statements he and his representatives have made; other specifics are unclear in the provided context and may evolve as further clarifications emerge.