News Digest

Disgraced NBC anchorman Brian William suspended for 6 months

NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams has been suspended for six months without pay following revelations that he exaggerated tales from an Iraq War mission in 2003. His suspension without pay will be active immediately, said the network. In the interim, Lester Holt will continue to serve as serve as substitute anchor.

By his actions, Brian has jeopardized the trust millions of Americans place in NBC News. His actions are inexcusable and this suspension is severe and appropriate.

NBCUniversal Chief Executive Steve Burke

On his nightly newscast early in February, Williams admitted that he had embellished his account of being on a helicopter that was hit by enemy fire during the initial 2003 Iraqi invasion, and apologized to viewers for misleading them. That came after crew members on the 159th Aviation Regiment’s Chinook that were hit by RPG fire told Stars and Stripes newspaper Williams was nowhere near the helicopter shot down. Williams later announced he was stepping aside temporarily from his show because he had become “too much a part of the news.” The news came after NBC started an investigation into Mr. Williams and his reporting. Anchorman Lester Holt will continue to substitute for Mr. Williams now, said an NBC spokesman.

I made a mistake in recalling the events of 12 years ago…I want to apologize, I said I was traveling in an aircraft that was hit by RPG fire, I was instead in a following aircraft.

Brian Williams