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| NBC’s Brian Williams steps away from anchor chair amidst probe | NBC’s Brian Williams steps away from anchor chair amidst probe |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Brian Williams said on Saturday that he will step aside as anchor of his nightly NBC News broadcast for “several days” as a result of the controversy generated by his comments about his reporting during the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina. | Brian Williams said on Saturday that he will step aside as anchor of his nightly NBC News broadcast for “several days” as a result of the controversy generated by his comments about his reporting during the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina. |
| In a memo to NBC News staff made public by the network, Williams wrote, “As managing editor of NBC Nightly News, I have decided to take myself off of my daily broadcast for the next several days, and Lester Holt has kindly agreed to sit in for me to allow us to adequately deal with this issue. Upon my return, I will continue my career-long effort to be worthy of the trust of those who place their trust in us.” | In a memo to NBC News staff made public by the network, Williams wrote, “As managing editor of NBC Nightly News, I have decided to take myself off of my daily broadcast for the next several days, and Lester Holt has kindly agreed to sit in for me to allow us to adequately deal with this issue. Upon my return, I will continue my career-long effort to be worthy of the trust of those who place their trust in us.” |
| On Friday, network officials said an internal investigation had been launched into Williams’s statements. | On Friday, network officials said an internal investigation had been launched into Williams’s statements. |
| Williams, 55, has been under fire since Wednesday after he apologized to a group of Iraqi war veterans for apparently exaggerating the danger he and an NBC News crew faced while covering the start of the war. Williams had described coming under rocket and gunfire while traveling with American soldiers in a military helicopter that was damaged and forced to land. The soldiers disputed Williams’s account, saying his aircraft had not been fired upon, prompting Williams to recant the story. | Williams, 55, has been under fire since Wednesday after he apologized to a group of Iraqi war veterans for apparently exaggerating the danger he and an NBC News crew faced while covering the start of the war. Williams had described coming under rocket and gunfire while traveling with American soldiers in a military helicopter that was damaged and forced to land. The soldiers disputed Williams’s account, saying his aircraft had not been fired upon, prompting Williams to recant the story. |
| His comments about his work covering Hurricane Katrina in 2005 are also under review by NBC News. Williams has made several statements about what he saw and experienced during the storm in New Orleans that have not been corroborated. | His comments about his work covering Hurricane Katrina in 2005 are also under review by NBC News. Williams has made several statements about what he saw and experienced during the storm in New Orleans that have not been corroborated. |
| He began his two-paragraph memo to NBC’s staff this way: “In the midst of a career spent covering and consuming news, it has become painfully apparent to me that I am presently too much a part of the news, due to my actions.” | He began his two-paragraph memo to NBC’s staff this way: “In the midst of a career spent covering and consuming news, it has become painfully apparent to me that I am presently too much a part of the news, due to my actions.” |
| Williams is the most-watched anchorman in the nation, and is thus among NBC’s most valuable assets. His daily newscast, “Nightly News with Brian Williams,” attracts more than 9 million viewers daily. | Williams is the most-watched anchorman in the nation, and is thus among NBC’s most valuable assets. His daily newscast, “Nightly News with Brian Williams,” attracts more than 9 million viewers daily. |
| Holt anchors the weekend edition of the program and has been a frequent substitute for Williams during the week. | Holt anchors the weekend edition of the program and has been a frequent substitute for Williams during the week. |
| RELATED: NBC probing Brian Williams’s reports on Iraq, Hurricane Katrina | |
| Brian Williams scandal: What about that ‘Purple Heart injury’? | |
| Bill O’Reilly: Brian Williams ‘not a bad man’ | |
| The Brian Williams scandal is an NBC News-wide scandal | |
| Why war reporters can’t stand the Brian Williams scandal | |
| Leader of prominent veterans organization urges forgiveness for Brian Williams |