New Canaan's Brian Williams Steps Down Amid Allegations of 'Embellishment'

NBC Nightly News anchor and New Canaan resident Brian Williams has announced that he is stepping down as the anchor of ‘NBC Nightly News’ amid allegations he embellished his experiences in the Iraq War more than decade ago.

Williams announced on Saturday that he will step aside from his ‘NBC Nightly News’ chair duties amid mounting questions about the accuracy of a story he told about an Iraq War mission in 2003, according to CNN News.

According to the report, “I have decided to take myself off of my daily broadcast for the next several days,” he said in a memo to colleagues on Saturday afternoon.”

Lester Holt, anchor of NBC’s ‘Dateline’ and the weekend ‘Nightly News,’ will fill in for Williams.

And Williams thinks he will to return to his job even though NBC News confirmed Friday that it’s investigating him over his now-retracted statement that he was in a helicopter in Iraq that was hit by enemy fire and forced to land.

“Upon my return, I will continue my career-long effort to be worthy of the trust of those who place their trust in us,” Williams said at the end of the memo, according to CNN.

According to reports, since the scandal broke last week, NBC has said that Williams apologized for claiming he was aboard a helicopter in 2003 that was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. He was actually aboard a different helicopter. (Here’s how his story changed over time.)

The 55-year-old Williams said NBC-TV newsman Lester Holt will fill in during the evening broadcasts until he returns.

“Holt has kindly agreed to sit in for me to allow us to adequately deal with this issue,” Williams said, according to Fox TV. “Upon my return, I will continue my career-long effort to be worthy of the trust of those who place their trust in us.”

And Williams’ predecessor, Tom Brokaw who lives in Bedford, NY, has called for Willams’ dismissal.

According to FOX TV, there also have been questions raised about his claim of what he witnessed during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

What do you think? Should Williams step down permanently?

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Photo credit: Diocese of Bridgeport.