NBC suspends star anchor Brian Williams for six months

NBC suspended star news anchor Brian Williams for six months without pay Tuesday after he admitted embellishing an Iraq war story, the US network said, amid swirling accusations that he exaggerated other reports.

The measure takes effect immediately, said NBC, which is under growing pressure to fire the 55-year-old Williams, who reportedly earns about $10 million a year and has scooped up more than two dozen industry awards during his glittering journalism career.

Williams’ on-air “misrepresentation” of how he came under fire in Iraq in 2003 was “wrong and completely inappropriate for someone in Brian’s position,” Deborah Turness, president of NBC news, said in a statement on its website.

“We have decided today to suspend Brian Williams as managing editor and anchor of NBC nightly news for six months. The suspension will be without pay and is effective immediately.

“We let Brian know of our decision earlier today. Lester Holt will continue to substitute anchor the NBC nightly news.”

NBC took action as it conducts an internal review into the embattled Williams’ reporting.

NBCUniversal chief executive Steve Burke called Williams’ actions “inexcusable,” before adding: “He deserves a second chance and we are rooting for him.”

Williams, who is watched by an estimated nine million Americans each night and is one of the most recognizable faces on US television, hauled himself off the air at the weekend for “several days.”

He has admitted that the story about his dicing with death in Iraq in a helicopter was not true, after criticism from troops who were present at the time.

His on-air apology last week only fanned the flames, with critics refusing to accept Williams simply made an honest mistake.

Hinting at wider issues about Williams’ reporting, amid claims he had exaggerated other stories, Turness added: “In addition, we have concerns about comments that occurred outside NBC news while Brian was talking about his experiences in the field.

“Brian has a responsibility to be truthful and to uphold the high standards of the news division at all times.

“As I’m sure you understand, this was a very hard decision. Certainly there will be those who disagree. But we believe this suspension is the appropriate and proportionate action.”

At the time of the Iraq incident, Williams said it was the Chinook ahead that was “almost blown out of the sky,” but his story has gradually changed.

The controversy erupted after he recently repeated a different version of the story on television, claiming his own helicopter came under fire. He made the comments in an elaborate tribute to a retired soldier who helped provide ground security for the grounded aircraft and crew.

Crew members of the Chinook helicopter and Williams’ aircraft told Stars and Stripes, a US publication that covers the armed forces, that the anchor had been nowhere near the helicopter that was fired upon or other Chinooks in its formation.

He instead arrived later in a separate helicopter, which landed due to an oncoming sandstorm.

Williams is facing further scrutiny for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 over an account that he saw a body afloat face down in the French Quarter, the historic district of New Orleans.

A hugely respected journalist in the United States, Williams is a former chief White House correspondent and has anchored “NBC Nightly News” since 2004.

In December, he renewed his contract with NBC for five years.