Popular U.S. Journalist Admits He Faked Story About Iraq Attack

Popular U.S. Journalist Admits He Faked Story About Iraq Attack
Fecha de publicación: 
6 February 2015
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Williams retracted the story he recounted last week after crewmembers of the U.S. chopper that was attacked told “Stars and Stripes” newspaper that the reporter was not on board at the time.

The journalist, 55, apologized on Wednesday evening in a statement he read during the “NBC Nightly News,” which he has hosted since 2004.

“I want to apologize,” Williams said. “I made a mistake in recalling the events of 12 years ago. ... I feel terrible about making this mistake ... about the incident ... and I was indeed on the Chinook behind the bird that took the (rocket-propelled grenade) in the tail housing.”

Williams spoke about the attack last Friday on the broadcast while reporting a tribute at a New York Rangers hockey game for a retired soldier who provided ground security during the incident.

He said that he was on board the helicopter that was hit by the RPG and forced down.

Williams also said he did not know why he had confused one aircraft for the other in his story.

At present, it is not known what the repercussions of the false story will be for Williams at NBC, although his credibility has now been questioned by some of his journalism colleagues.

He has also been the butt of online jokes since the story broke, including photo-montages in which he is shown reporting from the Moon and messages on Twitter.

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