Despite that insiders have released claims alleging that embattled NBC News anchor Brian Williams has been caught in up to 11 more “embellished” tales, some reports find that NBC’s top news executive wants Williams back in the anchor chair.
Williams was put on indefinite suspension after questions over his fanciful claims of having been fired upon in Iraq finally led to serious attention being brought to his years-long habit of embellishing his personal biography. Williams was suspended early in February after NBC started an investigation into his actions.
The investigation continues to this day, and a few days ago, news broke that NBC insiders alleged that its investigators found up to 11 more “embellished” stories Williams indulged. Yet, by some accounts, the real tally is up to 32 such “embellished” tales.
Despite all this, NBC’s recently-returned news chief, Andrew Lack, is rumored to want the nation’s most investigated news anchor back in his Nightly News anchor chair.
Early in March, Lack returned to NBC to oversee the retooling of the network’s news department, and his arrival came just as the Williams scandal heated to white hot.
But Williams and Lack have a long friendly history, and insiders say that Lack still seems willing to give his anchor pal the benefit of the doubt.
An NBC insider told The New York Daily News that Lack thinks America wants Williams back. “The feeling is,” the insider said, “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.”
The insider also reported that Williams has insisted that he will not resign, and if he is to go, then he’ll have to be fired.
Lack, though, seems uninterested in jettisoning his friend no matter what the investigation shows.
“The fact that there has been no resolution and that he (Lack) is still searching for a way to restore Brian is making it very hard for us to move forward,” a network source told the Daily News.
Williams, it is said, is not interested in money. His goal is to restore his tarnished reputation, and he is convinced being allowed back on the air as anchor will erase his history of “embellishments.”
“He’s already got money,” the source added. “For him this is an ego thing.”
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.
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