Brian Williams controversy: What led to the NBC anchor’s suspension

In February, NBC News President Deborah Turness sent an e-mail to the staff of NBC News announcing that, effective immediately, Brian Williams was suspended without pay as managing editor and anchor of the "NBC Nightly News," a position he had held since 2004.

The announcement came after a week of increasing controversy surrounding Williams' repeated assertions over the years that he was on a Chinook helicopter that drew ground fire during the Iraq invasion in 2003. After several military personnel took issue with Williams' recounting of events, he took back his story and apologized. But that did little to quell the buzz surrounding the newsman's status in the organization.

The following is a timeline of how Williams got to the spot he is in now.

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

• During a special edition of the NBC News program "Dateline," correspondent Brian Williams reports to anchor Tom Brokaw that he was riding in a military helicopter that was forced to the ground while flying over Iraq. On the ground, he reports, they learn that another helicopter took damage from an RPG, narrowly avoiding complete destruction.

Tuesday, March 4, 2013

• Williams appears on Alec Baldwin's podcast "Here's the Thing" and says "I've done some ridiculously stupid things under that banner, like being in a helicopter I had no business being in in Iraq, with rounds coming into the airframe." When Baldwin asks if he thought he would die, Williams says, "Briefly. Sure."

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

• Ten years to the day after the incident, Williams appears as a guest on "Late Show With David Letterman" and tells the story of the incident in a different way. After warning Letterman that he was "not terribly good" at being a war correspondent, he recounted that "two of the four helicopters" in their squad were hit by ground fire from RPG and AK-47, including the one Williams was riding in.

Friday, Jan. 30, 2015

• While covering a ceremony honoring retiring soldier Tim Terpak, who provided ground security during Williams time covering Iraq, the anchor says on the "NBC Nightly News" "the helicopter we were traveling in was forced down after being hit by an RPG."

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015

• After soldiers who were in the Chinook under fire in Iraq raise concerns on social media, Williams first publishes a post online and then apologizes on the "NBC Nightly News." "I made a mistake in recalling the events of 12 years ago," he said. He says he was in a following aircraft and not in the one that drew ground fire.
• In an apology posted on Facebook, Williams writes, "Because I have no desire to fictionalize my experience (we all saw it happened the first time) and no need to dramatize events as they actually happened, I think the constant viewing of the video showing us inspecting the impact area — and the fog of memory over 12 years — made me conflate the two, and I apologize."
• The military news organization Stars and Stripes runs an interview with Williams in which he elaborates on his apology. "No, we never came under direct enemy fire to the aircraft," he said.

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015

• Army helicopter pilot Richard Krell gives an interview to CNN in which he states he was flying the Chinook that Williams was riding in and says that all three helicopters in the formation took "small arms fire."

Friday, Feb. 6, 2015

• NBC News President Deborah Turness sends an e-mail to the entire NBC News staff that reads, in part, "This has been a difficult few days for all of us at NBC News... As you would expect, we have a team dedicated to gathering the facts to help us make sense of all that has transpired. We're working on what the best next steps are — and when we have something to communicate we will of course share it with you."
• Krell recants his story after other pilots give a differing account of events to the New York Times. He tells CNN, "The information I gave you was true based on my memories, but at this point I am questioning my memories."

Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015

• In a statement released to media, Williams announces he is taking a leave of absence from "NBC Nightly News." "It has become painfully apparent to me that I am presently too much a part of the news, due to my actions," he writes. "Upon my return, I will continue my career-long effort to be worthy of the trust of those who place their trust in us." Lester Holt, William's backup and NBC's weekend anchor, steps in as fill-in anchor.
• Questions are raised regarding Williams' reporting from New Orleans in 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. An NBC News executive tells the Times that Richard Esposito, head of the news division investigations unit, is looking into Williams' previous reporting to see if there is a pattern of Williams straying from the facts.

Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015

• Williams cancels a planned appearance on "Late Show With David Letterman."

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015

• CNN reports Williams meets with NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke at Burke's Central Park adjacent apartment.
• Turness announces Williams' suspension, a decision she says was reached by herself, Burke and Patricia Fili-Krushel, chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group. "As I’m sure you understand, this was a very hard decision. Certainly there will be those who disagree. But we believe this suspension is the appropriate and proportionate action," Turness' email states.

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015

• The evening news broadcast anchored by Holt while Williams is suspended averaged 10.1 million viewers for the week of Feb. 16-20, according to Nielsen. That topped "ABC World News Tonight" with David Muir (9.7 million) and the "CBS Evening News" with Scott Pelley (8.5 million). It was also an improvement of 673,000 viewers from the previous week.

Friday, March 6, 2015

• NBCUniversal announced Andrew Lack would return to the company in the role he had from 1993 to 2001, with a new title: chairman of NBC News and MSNBC. Lack was responsible for grooming Williams to take over the anchor chair on "NBC Nightly News" from Tom Brokaw. Speculation surfaced that with Lack's return, Williams has a better chance to return to his evening news job, a prospect that appeared to be hopeless

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

• For the first time since Williams was suspended in early February, "NBC Nightly News" finished second in the evening news ratings race for the week of March 30-April 3.

Sunday, April 26, 2015

• NBC News officials continue to say the internal review into Williams’ reporting is ongoing and no decision has been made about whether he will return from his current suspension. However, some in the industry speculated Williams' future is bleak.

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