NBC on Tuesday night suspended disgraced anchorman Brian Williams for six months without pay, saying his repeated lies about coming under enemy fire while covering the Iraq War were “inexcusable” and he deserved a “severe and appropriate” punishment.
“By his actions, Brian has jeopardized the trust millions of Americans place in NBC News,” NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke said in a prepared statement.
But Burke also noted that Williams’ “deep remorse” and dedication to the news business meant he “deserves a second chance, and we are rooting for him.”
Williams’ temporary banishment from the “NBC Nightly News” will cost him about $5 million, half his reported $10 million-plus annual salary.
Lester Holt, who has filled in since Monday, will remain in the anchor chair while Williams is out, according to NBC News.
In an email sent to the network’s news division, NBC News President Deborah Turness said she, Burke and Pat Fili-Krushel, chair of NBCUniversal News Group, “came to this decision together.”
Turness called the move “very hard” but “the appropriate and proportionate action.”
“While on ‘Nightly News’ on Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, Brian misrepresented events which occurred while he was covering the Iraq War in 2003,” she wrote.
“It then became clear that on other occasions, Brian had done the same while telling that story in other venues.
“This was wrong and completely inappropriate for someone in Brian’s position,” Turness added.
The full memo from Deborah Turness:
All,
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.
Our review, which is being led by Richard Esposito working closely with NBCUniversal General Counsel Kim Harris, is ongoing, but I think it is important to take you through our thought process in coming to this decision.
While on Nightly News on Friday, January 30, 2015, Brian misrepresented events which occurred while he was covering the Iraq War in 2003. It then became clear that on other occasions Brian had done the same while telling that story in other venues. This was wrong and completely inappropriate for someone in Brian’s position.
In addition, we have concerns about comments that occurred outside NBC News while Brian was talking about his experiences in the field.
As Managing Editor and Anchor of Nightly News, Brian has a responsibility to be truthful and to uphold the high standards of the news division at all times.
Steve Burke, Pat Fili and I came to this decision together. We felt it would have been wrong to disregard the good work Brian has done and the special relationship he has forged with our viewers over 22 years. Millions of Americans have turned to him every day, and he has been an important and well-respected part of our organization.
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.
This has been a difficult time. But NBC News is bigger than this moment. You work so hard and dedicate yourselves each and every day to the important work of bringing trusted, credible news to our audience. Because of you, your loyalty, your dedication, NBC News is an organization we can — and should — all be proud of. We will get through this together.
Steve Burke asked me to share the following message.
“This has been a painful period for all concerned and we appreciate your patience while we gathered the available facts. 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. Brian’s life’s work is delivering the news. I know Brian loves his country, NBC News and his colleagues. He deserves a second chance and we are rooting for him. Brian has shared his deep remorse with me and he is committed to winning back everyone’s trust.”
Deborah
The email also suggested that a harsher punishment for Williams had been considered, with Turness saying: “We felt it would have been wrong to disregard the good work Brian has done and the special relationship he has forged with our viewers over 22 years.”
Turness noted that an internal investigation being led by veteran investigative reporter Richard Esposito was “ongoing.”
An NBC source said Williams, 55, was crushed when NBC execs lowered the boom on him during a sit-down at Burke’s apartment on Central Park West.
“Brian has been very contrite and apologetic about what has happened, but at the same time, he has been resolute about getting back to work,” the source said. “He was sad when told the news today, but accepted the decision and said he’ll do everything he can to win back the trust of the public and the network.”
The source called the suspension a “bold step” that NBC brass realized was necessary because of the time that will be needed to investigate all of Williams’ potential lies and exaggerations.
Since Williams’ fabrications about the 2003 Iraq War helicopter incident were exposed, critics have accused him of exaggerating his experiences while covering Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
After Katrina, the anchor claimed to have seen a body floating past his hotel window in the French Quarter.
That area of New Orleans, however, was not severely affected by the flooding.
Williams also claimed he got dysentery from accidentally drinking the stormwater. A former public health official disputed that account.
“My dogs drank it,” the official told The New Orleans Advocate. “They didn’t have any problems.”