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By Leah Asmelash, CNN

(CNN) — On Tuesday of last week, CBS News announced a slate of 19 new contributors, part of ongoing efforts by its recently installed editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, to revamp the network’s public profile. Among the names — “all experts in their fields,” as CBS put it — was Dr. Peter Attia, a celebrity doctor specializing in longevity medicine.

Three days later, the Department of Justice released a new trove of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files, which included a friendly and salacious correspondence between Attia and the convicted sexual predator. In one particularly crude response, Attia wrote: “P*ssy is, indeed, low-carb. Still awaiting results on gluten content, though.”

Some of Attia’s fans have expressed disgust since the emails were made public. One fan on Reddit, who said they learned “a lot” from Attia’s work over the years, called him a “morally bankrupt, social climbing, Egomaniac.” Attia’s most recent Instagram post was flooded with angry replies, including one from an influencer and retired nurse which read “YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER.” Another from a former follower said: “Wish I could get back every penny I spent on your book and recommending you to people. You make me sick.”

Attia has a small, if expensive, medical practice, called Early Medical, with a waitlist for patients to join. As of 2025, he told CBS’ “60 Minutes” he saw fewer than 75 patients. He did not disclose the exact price of his services, just that he charged “closer to $100,000 than $500,000.”

But his interest in lengthening life has made him a prominent name in the last few years. His appearances have included spots on “The Joe Rogan Experience” and on CNN International, where he was interviewed by Becky Anderson about how technology is changing health. He was also interviewed by Oprah, where the two chatted about “living better for longer.” That video, which had been viewable earlier this week on YouTube, is no longer publicly available.

And before Weiss took over at CBS News, he spoke with her for her podcast, “Honestly.” In that interview, Weiss said Attia “consistently cuts through all that noise” in the health and wellness industry.

In a statement posted to X on Monday, Attia said he “was not involved in any criminal activity,” had “nothing to do with (Epstein’s) sexual abuse or exploitation of anyone,” and he was never “present at any sex parties.” Attia has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

“To be clear, I never witnessed illegal behavior and never saw anyone who appeared underage in his presence,” he wrote.

As of Tuesday, CBS News has reportedly pulled a planned rebroadcast of a “60 Minutes” segment featuring Attia from October that was expected to air against the Super Bowl, The Guardian first reported. The network is also possibly weighing Attia’s dismissal, TheWrap reported.

Attia and CBS News did not respond

By Betsy Klein, CNN

(CNN) — One of the more emotional moments in first lady Melania Trump’s new documentary comes when she meets Aviva Siegel, a former hostage held by Hamas who’s advocating for the release of her husband, in January 2025.

On Wednesday, Trump welcomed the couple to the White House, and told observers that they could see more of that meeting in her film — a callout for the multimillion dollar project that is alarming some advocates and ethics experts, even though there are no rules barring her from promoting it at the White House.

“It was emotional meeting, and it is captured on camera and available to see in my film, ‘Melania,’” Trump said in remarks in the Blue Room at an event meant to celebrate the Siegels’ release. (Keith Siegel, who was also captured by Hamas on October 7, 2023, was freed in February 2025.)

Asked by CNN whether she felt it was appropriate to use an official White House event to tout her film, Trump said Wednesday’s meeting came at the Siegels’ request and was “not promotion.”

“This is not promotion. We are here celebrating the release of the hostages, of Aviva and Keith. They were in Washington, DC, and they called me. They said they would like to come over to thank me and to give hugs,” she said.

“That’s why we are here. It has nothing to do with promotion.”

Earlier during Wednesday’s sit-down, Keith Siegel thanked Trump for the role he said she played in bringing him home and discussed his efforts to work in humanitarian aid in Kenya as part of his recovery process. Then, he congratulated the first lady on her new movie.

“Looking forward to seeing it, and so grateful for you deciding to have Aviva be a part of your movie,” he said.

Aviva Siegel thanked Trump “for putting me in your special ‘Melania’ film.”

The office of the first lady and Trump’s private office did not respond to CNN’s request for comment on whether she did any private outreach or advocacy on behalf of hostages captured by Hamas over the past year.

But for hostage advocates and ethics experts, the focus on the film on Wednesday was jarring.

“There’s gratitude for the role the administration played in bringing the hostages home, and, with an administration that has exploited aspects of the presidency for personal benefit, deep discomfort with that potentially happening here,” said Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

Using the “role hostages played to promote a film,” she added, “obviously raises major concerns.”

It’s not illegal for a sitting first lady to profit from her position — Trump signed a roughly $40 million deal with Amazon MGM on the film documenting the 20 days around her husband’s 2025 inauguration — nor is it illegal for her to personally promote it in the White House. (There are, however, rules prohibiting her staff from doing so.)

Still, ethics experts questioned the optics of Trump using a meeting at the White House to tout her film.

“The White House is the representation of American government. This is paid for by taxpayers and is one of the symbols of public service. … When you see it being used as part of this business deal that’s bringing in millions of dollars for the first lady, it makes us and a lot of people uncomfortable,” said Jordan Libowitz, spokesperson for CREW, or Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

He added: “It’s supposed to be above that. It’s a symbol of something greater, something beyond money making.”

The film — which earned ab

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - Toasty temperatures continue Thursday as clouds move in from the southeast.

Temperatures drop Friday as high pressure exits east, gets replaces with weak low pressure, and onshore winds ramp up.

Despite the upcoming cooling, we will remain warm and in the 70s through this weekend with offshore winds giving us a boost to near 75 on Super Bowl Sunday.

Two rainstorms are now expected for next week - one around Tuesday with another possible during the Valentine's Day weekend though both systems expected to produce under half an inch expected each.

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