Newly released emails show Peter Attia planned contact with Jeffrey Epstein during a family crisis, prompting an apology and reported fallout with CBS News
Peter Attia, a newly named CBS News star contributor and longevity specialist, was in New York in July 2017 when his infant son Ayrton stopped breathing and was hospitalised in San Diego, according to his own account, while emails show he was also arranging to meet convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during that period. The situation has resurfaced following the release of a large cache of
Epstein-related documents and Attia’s subsequent apology.
In his book Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, Attia, 52, described receiving a call from his wife, Jill, on the evening of July 11, 2017, informing him that their son had suddenly stopped breathing.
“I stayed in New York, busy with my ‘important’ work,” he wrote. “Ayrton’s cardiac arrest happened on a Tuesday, but I did not come home to San Diego until Friday of the following week. Ten days later.”
He described himself as a “blind, selfish, checked-out husband and father” and said he felt lasting guilt. “Even today, just thinking about what happened, I feel nauseous about my behavior,” he wrote. “I can’t believe I did that to my family.”
Emails with Epstein during the same period
Newly released emails show that a day after speaking with his wife about their son’s condition, Attia made plans to meet
Epstein on July 13.
“Can you do before 10 am? tomrow,” Epstein wrote.
“Sure,” Attia replied. “I can come earlier, also, if you have a hard stop at 10. Let me know.”
It remains unclear whether the meeting took place on July 13, 2017, or what occurred if it did.
The documents also include other exchanges described as friendly, including an email in which Attia wrote to Epstein that “p—y is, indeed, low carb.”
Scale of Attia’s presence in the files
Attia is mentioned 1,741 times in the 3 million documents released on Friday, many of which include questions about Epstein’s well-being and references to his “outrageous” lifestyle. His name appears more than 1,700 times in the trove of 3 million emails released as part of the Epstein files by the US Department of Justice.
In one 2015 note, Attia said, “The biggest problem with becoming friends with you? The life you lead is so outrageous, and yet I can’t tell a soul…”
In a 2016 email, Attia said, using Epstein’s initials, “I go into JE withdrawal when I don’t see him.”
Apology and reported CBS response
On Monday, Attia issued an apology, saying he was “ashamed” of his conversations with Epstein.
Paramount-owned CBS News is expected to cut ties with contributor Peter Attia over his dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, The Wrap reported on Monday, citing an individual with knowledge of the parent company’s thinking.
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