NBC Suspends Brian Williams For Six Months Without Pay

You won't be seeing Brian Williams behind the NBC News anchor desk for awhile.

NBC announced Tuesday that the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News has been suspended for six months without pay following his admission that he had embellished stories about his coverage of the Iraq war in 2003.

"The suspension will be without pay and is effective immediately," said NBC News President Deborah Turness. "We let Brian know of our decision earlier today. Lester Holt will continue to substitute anchor the NBC Nightly News."

Earlier, Williams announced that he would voluntarily step down from his anchoring duties on a temporary basis, telling staff in a memo released Saturday by the network, "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."

Williams issued an apology during his Feb. 4 newscast after questions were raised about a story where he was in a Chinook helicopter that was forced to land after taking fire. Among those questioning the story were members of the 159th Aviation Regiment who told Stars and Stripes that Williams was not a passenger in the helicopter that was shot at.

"I would not have chosen to make this mistake," said Williams during last Wednesday's newscast. "I don't know what screwed up in my mind that caused me to conflate one aircraft with another."

Source: Eonline.com