Peter Attia resigns from CBS News after Epstein file revelations

peter attia has stepped down from his role as a CBS News contributor after exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein appeared in documents published by the US Department of Justice; the move follows public backlash and raises fresh questions about contributor vetting. The departure matters because the messages—some of them crude—were widely circulated and prompted a rapid response from Attia and the network.

Emails surfaced in Department of Justice files and included crass comments

The exchanges that prompted the fallout were among documents published by the US Department of Justice and show that Attia exchanged a number of emails with Jeffrey Epstein. One 2016 email included a joke by Attia about the female anatomy and acts of sex, and another message contained a crass comment about women’s bodies. The author wrote that he went into Epstein "withdrawal when I don't see him" and in one exchange told the disgraced financier directly that he missed him. Appearing in the files does not imply any wrongdoing.

Peter Attia steps down as CBS News contributor

The celebrity doctor and anti-ageing influencer stepped down from his role as a CBS News contributor after the documents were published. Attia’s spokesman said the role "was newly established and had not yet meaningfully begun" and that Attia would step back to avoid becoming "a distraction from the important work being done at CBS. " Attia was among 19 contributors appointed by new CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss in January, following the network's takeover by Paramount.

Attia's public note, apologies and denials

Days after the documents were published, Attia shared a 1, 000-word note on social media rejecting being "involved in any criminal activity" and stressing that he was "never on his [Epstein's] plane, never on his island, and never present at any sex parties. " He wrote, "My interactions with Epstein had nothing to do with his sexual abuse or exploitation of anyone. " The anti-ageing influencer has repeatedly apologised for the messages but has stressed he had no involvement in Epstein's criminality.

Visits to Epstein's New York City home and timeline Attia provided

Attia said he visited Epstein at the late financier's New York City home on "seven or eight" occasions between 2014 and 2019. He said that during those visits he never witnessed illegal activity and never saw Epstein accompanied by anyone who appeared to be underage. The period Attia cites overlaps with years leading up to Epstein's death in custody in 2019 while he was awaiting trial on charges including sex trafficking.

Epstein's prior conviction and the wider newsroom hires tied to ownership changes

Jeffrey Epstein was convicted of soliciting a minor in 2008 as part of a plea deal after the parents of a 14-year-old girl told police that he had molested their daughter. He died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges including sex trafficking. Attia was among contributors that Bari Weiss brought in to share expertise on a range of topics, from health to national security. Weiss, a former New York Times opinion writer who started her career working at Jewish news outlets and is known for her criticism of "cancel culture, " was appointed to her new role as part of a bid by the broadcaster's new owner to reshape it. The broadcaster was taken over by David Ellison, the son of Trump ally and tech billionaire Larry Ellison, in 2025 as part of a wider merger with Paramount.

Fan reaction and reputational fallout

Attia's appearance in the Epstein files has been met with anger by some of his fans, and the published exchanges prompted swift statements and the decision to step back. While Attia has stressed he was never involved in Epstein's criminality, the revelations have already altered his public role and the contributor roster put in place by the editor-in-chief who hired him.