Dr. Peter Attia, who was recently named as a contributor to CBS News, put out a lengthy statement on X Monday morning saying he is “ashamed” of his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Attia and Epstein’s apparent friendship was revealed through emails included in the Department of Justice’s latest Epstein files release.
“The purpose of the DOJ releasing these documents is clear: to identify individuals who participated in criminal activity, enabled it, or witnessed it. I am not in any of those categories, and there is no evidence to the contrary,” he wrote. “1. I was not involved in any criminal activity. 2. My interactions with Epstein had nothing to do with his sexual abuse or exploitation of anyone. 3. I was never on his plane, never on his island, and never present at any sex parties.”
Attia went on to apologize for his correspondence with Epstein. He called the emails “embarrassing, tasteless and indefensible.”
Attia, a high-profile author, health influencer and celebrity doctor, was mentioned more than 1,700 times in the latest batch of files, which revealed a back-and-forth with Epstein that lasted long after the disgraced New York financier was hit with sex trafficking and prostitution charges. In a 2016 email to Lesley Groff, a former assistant to Epstein, Attia wrote, “I go into JE withdrawal when I don’t see him.”
CBS News named Attia as one of 19 new contributors on Jan. 27. The move is part of editor-in-chief Bari Weiss’ mission to reshape the program for the modern era of media and newsmaking. Attia’s relationship with Epstein has ignited significant online blowback for CBS News. CBS has not yet confirmed whether Attia will remain a contributor.
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