Medical Contributor Peter Attia Resigns from CBS News Amid Jeffrey Epstein Document Controversy

Dr. Peter Attia has resigned as a CBS News contributor after his name appeared in unsealed Justice Department documents detailing emails with Jeffrey Epstein.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 24, 2026, 7:10 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politico

Sudden Exit of High Profile Medical Influencer

Dr. Peter Attia has officially resigned from his position as a contributor for CBS News, a role he had only recently assumed. The departure follows the publication of hundreds of documents released by the U.S. Justice Department earlier this month, which linked Attia to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Attia, who gained widespread fame as the author of the best-selling book "Outlive" and through a high-profile "60 Minutes" profile last October, was a centerpiece of a new contributor roster recently announced by network leadership.

Admission of Indefensible Correspondence

The controversy stems from a series of emails between Attia and Epstein that became public in February 2026. While Attia has maintained that he never participated in any illegal activities or attended Epstein’s notorious social gatherings, he issued a public apology earlier this month. In that statement, he admitted that his digital correspondence included content he described as "embarrassing" and "tasteless." This admission of poor judgment created significant friction, although the network initially refrained from terminating his contract despite mounting public pressure.

Network Response and Strategic Contributor Shifts

CBS News confirmed Attia's resignation on Monday, noting that the doctor chose to step down voluntarily. His appointment had been part of a broader editorial expansion led by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, aimed at bringing diverse expert voices to the network’s programming. The fallout from the Epstein files has created a challenging environment for media organizations, as several public figures in both the corporate and media sectors have faced similar scrutiny regarding their past associations with the disgraced financier.