The longevity influencer Peter Attia has resigned from his position as a contributor to CBS News after backlash over the revelation of his relationship with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a person with knowledge of his decision.
CBS named Dr. Attia as one of a stable of new contributors in January, just days before the Justice Department released a trove of Epstein files that included more than 1,700 documents with Dr. Attia’s name in them. After the files were released, the network went silent on the matter, with representatives not responding to multiple requests for comment on the future of Dr. Attia’s position.
News of Mr. Attia’s resignation was disclosed in an email to employees in the booking department of CBS News on Monday, the person said.
The files showed Dr. Attia providing extensive medical testing and advice to Mr. Epstein, lamenting that he couldn’t tell anyone about Mr. Epstein’s “outrageous” life and making crude comments about women. The emails prompted condemnation from many other doctors.
Dr. Attia said he had not known about Mr. Epstein’s trafficking and abuse of women or underage girls, but apologized for the correspondence, which he said he was ashamed of now. Their relationship began after Mr. Epstein had already pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges involving a minor. Representatives for Dr. Attia did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Dr. Attia was one of several high-profile contributors recently named to CBS News by Bari Weiss, the new editor in chief of CBS News, alongside Andrew Huberman, the health influencer, and Casey Lewis, the Gen Z trendspotter.
Maggie Astor covers the intersection of health and politics for The Times.
The post Peter Attia Leaves CBS News Amid Epstein Files Fallout appeared first on New York Times.
