NEW YORK -- NBC says it is suspending Brian Williams as "Nightly News" anchor and managing editor for six months without pay for misleading the public about his experiences covering the Iraq War.
Lester Holt will continue to substitute anchor for NBC Nightly News.
NBC News President Deborah Turness said in an email to staff members: "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."
NBC chief executive Steve Burke said that Williams' actions were inexcusable and jeopardized the trust he has built up with viewers during his decade as the network's lead anchor. But he said Williams deserved a second chance.
Williams apologized last week for saying he was in a helicopter that was hit by a grenade while covering the Iraq War in 2003. Instead, he was in a group of helicopters and another was hit, and some veterans involved in the mission called him out on it.
Last Friday, NBC News said it began conducting its investigation of Williams' claims about his work. Turness said NBC's probe, led by Richard Esposito, head of NBC's investigative team, in cooperation with NBCUniversal General Counsel Kim Harris, is still ongoing.
