Longevity doctor Peter Attia is leaving his role as a CBS News contributor amid scrutiny over his correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein.
Attia was named as a CBS contributor in January when editor-in-chief Bari Weiss laid out her new vision for the network. At the time, Weiss stressed the importance of modernizing CBS and that she wanted to "widen the aperture" of stories and voices available on the network.
Attia is a physician whose bestselling book "Outlive" promised readers secrets to extending their "healthspan." His weekly podcast "The Peter Attia Drive" draws millions of listeners.
"He stepped back to ensure his involvement didn't become a distraction from the important work being done at CBS," a spokesman for Attia said Monday, noting that his work as a contributor "had not yet meaningfully begun."
Attia's name appeared more than 1,700 times in the Epstein files recently released by the Justice Department, with a relationship spanning from 2014 through 2019, The Wall Street Journal previously reported. Being mentioned in the files isn't an indication of wrongdoing. The two discussed Epstein's health, Attia's finances and made plans for in-person meetings.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide by New York City's medical examiner.
In a June 2015 email, Attia wrote to Epstein, "You the biggest problem with becoming friends with you? The life you lead is so outrageous, and yet I can't tell a soul..."
The following year, Attia wrote to him: "P -- -y is, indeed, low carb. Still awaiting results on gluten content, though."
Earlier this month, Attia shared on X a lengthy message he sent to his team about the Epstein matter. He said he wasn't involved in any criminal activity, his interactions with Epstein had "nothing to do with his sexual abuse or exploitation of anyone" and that he was never on Epstein's plane or private island.
In recent weeks, several companies said they had parted ways with Attia. Supplement company AG1 also recently said Attia was no longer an adviser to the company. And Virta Health, a platform focused on metabolic care where Attia had served as an adviser since 2016, said it also ended its relationship with him.
The co-founder and CEO of David Protein said on X on Feb. 2 that Attia had stepped down from his role as Chief Science Officer at the protein-bar company.
"The Peter Attia Drive" hasn't released a new podcast episode since late last month.