Brian Williams to step away from anchor chair for 'several days'

Embattled NBC News chief anchor Brian Williams issued a "personal note" Saturday taking himself off the air "for the next several days" during an uproar over his false account of a decade-old incident during the Iraq war.

Williams said in a brief statement on the NBC News website that fellow anchor Lester Holt would be taking over during the unspecified time period.

"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," Williams wrote.

"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."

NBC News confirmed Friday that it is investigating Williams over his now-retracted statement that he was in a helicopter in Iraq that was hit by enemy fire and forced to land.

"This has been a difficult few days for all of us at NBC News," NBC News President Deborah Turness said in a staff memo circulated Friday. "Yesterday, Brian and I spoke to the Nightly News team. And this morning at the Editorial Exchange, we both addressed the wider group. Brian apologized once again, and specifically expressed how sorry he is for the impact this has had on all of you and on this proud organization."