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Brian Williams apologizing for his "bungled" helicopter story on "NBC Nightly News."
In the short memo, Brian mentions that he is leaving the show "for the next several days," and Lester Holt is taking over.
Here's the full note:
"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."
On Wednesday Williams, NBC News' top anchor, confessed he "bungled" a story he had told on air about being in a helicopter that was shot down by an RPG in 2003. His admission came after multiple soldiers questioned the tale, which he has told on multiple occasions, and revealed he was actually not in the aircraft.
On Friday, we received an email that Deborah Turness, the president of the network's news division, sent to all NBC News staff on Friday afternoon where she said NBC News is "working on what the best next steps are" to address the situation.