With controversy continuing to swirl around him, Brian Williams is taking a leave of absence from anchoring the NBC Nightly News. Weekend anchor Lester Holt will step in during Williams' absence.
In a memo sent to the staff on Saturday afternoon, 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."
Williams' move follows his admittance earlier this week that he inaccurately recalled a story from the Iraq war in 2003, as he claimed the helicopter he was riding in was shot at by ground fire. Late on Feb. 6, NBC News president Deborah Turness confirmed that an internal investigation into Williams' account of the story is underway.
Williams, who recently signed a new mulityear deal with NBC News, is also coming under fire for his account of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 in which he claimed he saw a dead body floating in the French Quarter.
You can read Williams' full note to his staff below:
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.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.
