CBS News Hire Faced Criticism Over Epstein Ties, Family Crisis

Peter Attia, a new CBS News contributor, was criticized for prioritizing a meeting with Jeffrey Epstein over being with his family when his infant son was hospitalized.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 1:07pm

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Peter Attia, a new contributor to CBS News, faced backlash after it was revealed that he regularly communicated with Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier, and even chose to meet with Epstein rather than be with his family when his infant son was hospitalized and fighting for his life in 2017.

Why it matters

Attia's ties to Epstein and his decision to prioritize a meeting with the convicted sex offender over supporting his family during a medical emergency have raised concerns about his judgment and ethics, especially as he joins a major news network like CBS.

The details

According to Attia's own account in his book, his wife called him on July 11, 2017 while she was in an ambulance with their infant son, who had suddenly stopped breathing and had no heartbeat until she resuscitated him through CPR. However, Attia said he stayed in New York to meet with Epstein the next morning, rather than rushing to the hospital to be with his family. Attia's correspondence with Epstein, which included jokes about sex and concerns over legal issues, has also come under scrutiny.

  • On July 11, 2017, Attia's infant son suffered a cardiac arrest.
  • Attia stayed in New York and did not return home to San Diego until the following Friday, 10 days after the incident.

The players

Peter Attia

A new contributor to CBS News who has faced criticism for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and his decision to prioritize a meeting with Epstein over being with his family when his infant son was hospitalized.

Jill Attia

Peter Attia's wife, who was with their infant son in the ambulance when he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Jeffrey Epstein

The disgraced financier who was convicted of sex trafficking and later died by suicide in 2019.

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What they’re saying

“When Jill called me from the ambulance, I was in New York, in a taxi on Fifty-Fourth Street, on my way to dinner. After she finished telling me the story, I just said, without a shred of emotion, 'Okay, call me when you get to the hospital, so I can talk to the doctors in the ICU.'”

— Peter Attia (Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity)

“I stayed in New York, busy with my 'important' work. 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.”

— Peter Attia (Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity)

What’s next

CBS News has not yet responded to the ongoing developments regarding Attia's ties to Epstein and his decision to prioritize a meeting with the disgraced financier over being with his family during a medical emergency.

The takeaway

Attia's actions have raised serious questions about his judgment and ethics, especially as he joins a major news network like CBS. This case highlights the importance of prioritizing family and personal responsibilities, even for high-profile professionals, and the need for news organizations to carefully vet their contributors' backgrounds and decision-making.