Brian Williams

After years of recounting that he had been aboard a helicopter struck by an RPG during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Williams acknowledged that the account was false: the aircraft hit was not the one he was aboard.

Attribution

Personally implicated

Following the Iraq story, accounts given by Williams about Katrina were re-examined, notably his descriptions of a floating body near his hotel, violence and other dramatic scenes. NBC expanded its internal investigation to these claims.

Attribution

Personally implicated

Several public anecdotes told by Williams were disputed or appeared embellished: flying over Lebanon under rocket fire, being at the Berlin Wall when it fell, flying with members of SEAL Team 6 and his account of Tahrir Square.

Attribution

Personally implicated

NBC's internal investigation following the helicopter incident identified at least eleven statements in which Williams had allegedly embellished his role or the circumstances of events he covered.

Attribution

Directly implicated

NBC suspended Williams without pay for six months from his role as anchor and managing editor of Nightly News, with management concluding that he had distorted events during his reporting in Iraq in a way incompatible with his responsibilities.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following the crisis, NBC announced that Williams would not return as Nightly News anchor; Lester Holt became the permanent presenter and Williams was reassigned to MSNBC in a reduced breaking-news and special-coverage role.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In his first major interview after the suspension, Williams said he had made statements that were not true and attributed his embellishments to his ego and a desire to magnify his role in stories in which he had participated.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Personally implicated