Brian Williams’ chances at returning to the NBC Nightly News desk appeared to take a hit this weekend after updates on NBC News’ investigation into his embellished stories leaked, but there are reports that he still has a supporter in the network. NBC News chief Andrew Lack is hoping he can bring Williams back.
Sources told The New York Daily News that Lack is a friend of Williams’ and Williams has already told people that he will not resign.
“Andy believes viewers want him (Williams) back,” one source told the paper. “The feeling is that (Williams') problem seems to be more with the media and other reporters than his viewers — if Andy can figure out a way to get him back on the air he will do it.”
As previously reported, sources told the New York Times and the Washington Post over the weekend that NBC News senior executive producer Richard Esposito’s investigation has focused in on 11 stories that Williams may have made up or embellished. Williams was already suspended for six months after he admitted that his story about being in a helicopter hit by an RPG in 2003 in Iraq was not true.
According to The Los Angeles Times, there has been some speculation that NBC may have leaked the investigation update to pressure Williams into resigning. But that doesn’t seem to be happening and Lack, who returned to the network in March, is still supporting him.
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