propositioning me, inviting me to hotels with the guise of discussing business. >> conyers denies the allegations and he is now hospitalized in his hometown of detroit. his political consultant says it's due to stress. >> now harassment allegations are also dogging a well known figure entertainment mogul russell decemb russell simmons stepping down from his companies. he founded def jamb recordings in the 80s and went on to create an empire, his recollections are different than his accusers. he denies ever being violent but apologized for being, quote, thoughtless and insensitive in some of his relationships. >> now the latest news regarding embattled former today show anchor matt lauer. his former executive producer jeff zucker says he was unaware of, quote, deviant predatory behavior when he ran today. >> you have to feel for the women who endured this and lived with it and have come forward. and, you know, obviously i've known matt for 25 years, and i didn't know this man. >> and now as many question who knew what and when in regards to lauer's actions, the former anchor himself is speaking out releasing his first statement on the allegations dogging him. nbc's stephanie gosk has more. >> reporter: the former star anchor released a statement saying in part, to the people i have hurt, i am truly sorry. some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed. lauer's first public comments come on the heels of new accusations. at least three women have come forward to nbc. among them one accuser who alleges she was sexually assaulted in lauer's office in 2001. according to a report in "the new york times." she told the paper she passed out during the incident and woke up on the floor of his office. she says lauer had his assistant take her to a nurse. an nbc spokesperson would not comment on the details, citing privacy issues. altogether there may be as many as six accusers. questions have been raised about whether nbc news executives knew of the complaints prior to monday. several former nbc news executives we spoke with told us they didn't know of any complaints. and the network responded saying unequivocally no current management knew about any accusations. the string of allegations together with how swiftly matt lauer lost his anchor chair have many wondering if this will change tv newsroom culture, especially after high profile anchors at cbs news and fox news have also been fired. >> the curtain is being pulled back. >> the curtain is being pulled back and the question is whether the figures who have been toppedled are some of the biggest names in television whether they turnout to be sack official figures or transformative ones. >> reporter: stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york. >> all right. we are ending the week with some mild temperatures. let's turn to nbc meteorologist bill karins. pretty much mild fall, i guess. >> for the record fall is september, october u november. we added all those numbers up and we ended up with 92 cities with the top warm effort falls ever recorded in the station's history. some of the ones that stand out burlington was longest, caribou, new york city cleveland third. it's interesting, it's usually one side of the country or another. it's widespread. el paso, also there in albuquerque. even on december 1st today, we continue this very mild trend unusually warm from the great lakes all the way back to the northern rockies. 49 in minneapolis is like a heat wave. typically it should only be in happy thanks for giving! thanks for giving lien the strength to outrun her brother thanks for giving victor the energy to be the rowdiest fan. and joseph,the ability to see monsters. when you choose walgreens,you choose to make a difference.. like how every vitamin and flu shot you get at walgreens helps give life-changing vitamins and vaccines to children in need around the world and here at home. so,really... happy thanks for giving! walgreens.at the corner of happy and healthy. not all fish oil supplements provide the same omega-3 power. introducing megared advanced triple absorption it supports your heart, joints, brain, and eyes. and is absorbed by your body three times better. so one megared has more omega-3 power than three standard fish oil pills. megared advanced triple absorption. nothing smells greater than the great outdoors. especially when you're in accounts receivable. only one detergent can give you a sniff like this. the irresistable scent of new gain botanicals laundry detergent. bring the smell of nature wherever you are. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. [cheering and applauding] >> good job. ♪ ♪ >> that's the white house looking very merry and bright after president trump lit the national christmas tree for the first time. the 95th annual tradition was hosted by kathie lee gifford and dean kaine. president trump wished everyone a, quote, merry christmas and unbelievable holidays. >> leading the news, japan's emperor is stepping down for the first time in 200 years after nearly three decades. emperor akihito will abdicate on april 30th, 2019. the 83-year-old said he planned to step down last year citing his age and poor health in june. japan passed a special law allowing the emperor to retire. prime minister shinzo abe announced his abdication date today after a discussion with lawmakers and members of the royal family. he will be succeedsed by his son naru akihito. >> an explosion rocked a cosmetics factory in new york state. dramatic new images show a worker wiping the tank and then a bright flash as chemicals go up in flames. that employee, one of 125 injured in this incident. it happened last week. one person was killed. they say it was caused by static electricity and ruled it an accident. >> still ahead, a perfect duet from a superstar duo. plus how the republican tax plan could affect your family's medical needs. you're watching "early today" i switched to geico and got more! more savings on car insurance!? 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