CBS Executive Stands Firm on Keeping New Star Linked to Epstein

The newly appointed editor-in-chief at CBS News has reportedly declined to dismiss the network’s prominent ‘wellness expert,’ despite his name surfacing in the notorious Epstein files.

Bari Weiss, who took the helm of the network in October, aims to enhance CBS News’ impact by bringing on board 19 well-known media figures as contributors.

Just a week ago, on January 27, the network revealed these new additions, among whom was Peter Attia. Attia, the creator of the wellness app Outlive, also commands a substantial online following as an influencer and podcaster.

Last Friday, the Department of Justice unveiled a fresh batch of Epstein files, listing Attia’s name over 1,700 times.

The documents revealed hundreds of emails in which Attia referred to Epstein as his ‘friend,’ all sent after Epstein’s initial conviction. This revelation has fueled speculation that CBS News might consider terminating his contract.

But according to an anonymous source who spoke with The Wrap, Weiss told insiders she does not want CBS to cut ties with the contributor over fears she would be seen as caving in to the mob. 

The editor-in-chief’s position has reportedly created a rift between herself and the corporate heavyweights of CBS News’ parent company, Paramount.

Senior Paramount executives believe the controversy should be handled by human resources and that Attia’s tarnished reputation makes him too untrustworthy to provide expert advice on a national broadcast network.

Peter Attia, a wellness influencer-podcaster with millions of followers on social media, was recently hired as a contributor for CBS News. Over the weekend, it was revealed that he was a friend of Jeffrey Epstein and appeared in the Epstein files more than 1,700 times

Bari Weiss, the recently appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News, reportedly does not want to cut ties with Attia despite the uproar over his connections with Jeffrey Epstein 

Attia called the notorious child sex trafficker his ‘friend’ in hundreds of emails they exchanged, all of them after Epstein was first convicted

The source told The Wrap that it is Weiss against ‘everyone right now’ and that Paramount CEO David Ellison may have to step in to make the final call on whether to fire Attia. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Weiss, CBS News and Paramount for comment on the insider source’s statements.

Attia’s new position at CBS came under threat after it was revealed that he exchanged hundreds of emails with Epstein after the sex trafficker had been convicted in 2008 of procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute. 

Many of the communications, starting 2014, were crude or overtly sexual, though none appear to have referenced criminal acts.

‘[Female genitalia] is, indeed, low carb. Still awaiting results on gluten, though,’ one of the emails Attia sent to Epstein read.

Over the weekend, Attia wrote a lengthy apology to his staff and customers, which he then publicly shared on X Monday morning. 

‘To be clear: 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,’ the statement began. 

‘I was never on his plane, never on his island, and never present at any sex parties,’ he continued.

An insider source said it is Weiss against ‘everyone right now’ and that Paramount CEO David Ellison (pictured) may have to step in to make the final call on whether to fire Attia

Attia was hired just one week ago as a contributor to CBS News, along with 18 others handpicked by Weiss

‘[Female genitalia] is, indeed, low carb. Still awaiting results on gluten, though,’ one of the emails Attia sent to Epstein read

‘I apologize and regret putting myself in a position where emails, some of them embarrassing, tasteless, and indefensible, are now public, and that is on me. I accept that reality and the humiliation that comes with it.’

One of the more notorious emails which has been making the rounds online made it clear that Attia knew his friendship with Epstein could harm his reputation if it became public.

‘You [know] the biggest problem with becoming friends with you? The life you lead is so outrageous, and yet I can’t tell a soul,’ the wellness influencer wrote in 2015. 

Attia insisted this was not because he had any ‘awareness of wrongdoing’ on Epstein’s part, despite the billionaire’s conviction seven years earlier.

‘What I was referring to, poorly and flippantly, was the discretion commanded by those social and professional circles–the idea that you don’t talk about who you meet, the dinners you attend and the power and influence of the people in those settings,’ he wrote in his public apology.

‘What I wrote in that email reads terribly, and I own that.’

Although Attia may have never visited Epstein’s infamous private island of Little Saint James, another email exchange indicates that he wanted to. 

In a communication dated to April 2016, the pair compared Epstein’s island with Grand Cayman, which the late sex trafficker said was very different because ‘there are other people there’.

Epstein with his right-hand woman and longtime lover, Ghislaine Maxwell

Another email made it clear that Attia knew his friendship with Epstein could harm his reputation if it became public

‘I need to visit some time,’ Attia replied.

The wellness influencer also had exchanges with Epstein’s staff and associates, including his assistant Lesley Groff, to whom Attia complained he would ‘go into JE withdrawal’ if he didn’t see his convicted sex offender pal soon.

‘See you next time, hopefully JE in town when I’m back in 2 weeks. I go into JE withdrawal when I don’t see him,’ he wrote.

Attia claimed that ‘the presence and credibility of such venerable people’ around Epstein made him seem trustworthy and ‘clouded [his] judgement.’

He said that Epstein misled him about the crimes he was convicted of, despite the real story being well-publicized and easily searchable.

‘Shortly after we met, I asked him directly about his 2008 conviction. He characterized it as prostitution-related charges,’ he wrote.

Attia said that Epstein misled him about the crimes he was convicted of, despite the real story being well-publicized and easily searchable

Attia also exchanged emails with Epstein’s staff and associates, including his assistant Lesley Groff, to whom he complained he would ‘go into JE withdrawal’ if he didn’t see his convicted sex offender pal soon

‘I was incredibly naïve to believe him. I mistook his social acceptance in the eyes of the credible people I saw him with for acceptability, and that was a serious error in my judgment.

‘To be clear, I never witnessed illegal behavior and never saw anyone who appeared underage in his presence.’

Attia claimed he did not learn the truth until reading a 2018 Miami Herald article, which ‘repulsed’ and ‘nauseated’ him.