#BrianWilliams Suspended By NBC For Six Months With No Pay Over Iraq Lie

Brian Williams has been suspended from NBC Nightly News for the next six months without pay following his fake story that the helicopter he was riding in back in 2003 in Iraq was hit by an RPG. On Tuesday NBC News president Deborah Turness revealed the decision in a memo sent to staffers, which read:

#BrianWilliams Leaving ‘NBC Nightly News’ For "Several Days" Amid Iraq Reporting Controversy

Brian Williams announced on Saturday that he’s taking a brief leave from anchoring duties on “NBC Nightly News” after he found himself in a firestorm of criticism following his admission that he lied about coming under attack while in a helicopter in Iraq in 2003. In a memo to NBC News staffers yesterday, Brian wrote:

#BrianWilliams Apologizes For Making Up Story About Helicopter Shot Down In Iraq

Brian Williams has apologized for reporting on a false story on January 30 about being on a helicopter that was forced down by fire during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 (watch below). The 55-year-old news anchor admitted that he made up the story and apologized via Facebook on Wednesday after crew members of one of the Chinook helicopters that did get hit by rockets called him out after he repeated his false claim during a military tribute at last Friday’s New York #Rangers hockey game.