NBC suspends star anchor Williams for six months

NBC has suspended star news anchor Brian Williams for six months without pay 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 on Tuesday, 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 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. Lester Holt will continue to substitute anchor the NBC nightly news.”