NBC News staff received this message from Brian Williams on Saturday, announcing his suspension as anchor of NBC Nightly News for "the next several days":

In the midst of a career spent covering and consuming news, it has become painfully apparent to me that I am presently too much a part of the news, due to my actions.

As Managing Editor of NBC Nightly News, I have decided to take myself off of my daily broadcast for the next several days, and Lester Holt has kindly agreed to sit in for me to allow us to adequately deal with this issue. Upon my return, I will continue my career-long effort to be worthy of the trust of those who place their trust in us.

Williams' supposedly self-imposed exile follows reports from multiple sources on Friday that NBC News has begun an internal fact-checking investigation into his past work.

According to The New York Times, this inquiry will examine Williams' recently recanted claim about taking enemy fire in Iraq and his coverage of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina (elements of which have now been called into question), as well as any other "issues" that are discovered.

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