NBC via Getty Images
アメリカの3大ネットワークの1つNBCテレビは2月10日、看板キャスターのブライアン・ウィリアムズ氏（55）を6カ月間、無給の停職処分にすると発表した。2003年にイラク戦争を取材していた時の様子について、「乗っていたヘリが撃たれた」などと事実と異なる発言をしていたことが発覚して問題となっていた。47NEWSなどが伝えた。
ＮＢＣは「何百万人という米国人のＮＢＣニュースに対する信頼を損ねた」と強調。降板中の給料は支払わない。ウィリアムズ氏は先週、自ら「数日間」出演を見合わせると表明していた。
同氏は０４年から各局が競う夕方のニュース番組を担当。ＮＢＣの「ナイトリー・ニュース」は視聴率トップだったが、４日にうそを認めて謝罪してから他局に抜かれた。
（米人気キャスターの降板、半年に 取材でうその武勇伝 - 47NEWS 2015/02/11）
ウィリアムズ氏は、乗っていたヘリコプターが地上からの砲撃を受けて破損し、砂漠に緊急着陸したと語ってきたが、最近、これは事実と異なるとする指摘が上がっていた。
NBC幹部は発表で「何百万人ものアメリカ人がNBCに寄せている信頼に危機をもたらした」と停職の理由を説明、処分終了後にはウィリアムズ氏が復帰する方針も示した。
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