Officers from the Civil Police have spoken to the driver today after he came forward, as they attempt to finally get to the bottom of the freaky incident that is causing a huge diplomatic row between the USA and Brazil. Shortly afterward, Lochte’s mother, Ileana Lochte, told the media the swimmers were in a taxi when confronted by people with guns, who stole their wallets.
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This story has been corrected to reflect that the lawyer for two of the swimmers is Sergio Riera, not Sergio Viegas. News, “If, and that’s a big “if, ‘ Lochte is convicted of ‘making any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation” to the FBI, then he faces up to 5 years in federal prison.The FBI takes lies very very seriously”. It was not immediately clear if the organization planned to act.
Hours later, the official changed the story and said two security guards had pointed guns at the swimmers. “Lochte is one of the best swimmers of all-time”.
Workers at the gas station went to see what the commotion was about, the official said.
Veloso said the swimmers broke a door, a soap dispenser and a mirror.
A spokesman for the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) confirmed that Bentz and Conger were pulled from their flight. In one version, the athletes wrecked the station’s bathroom; in another, they urinated in public after arguing with station workers.
The official, who has direct knowledge of the investigation, spoke anonymously because he is not authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation. Lochte was not asked by authorities to stay in Brazil, Ostrow said.
Two top US Olympic swimmers faced new questioning by Brazilian police Thursday after being removed from a US-bound plane over allegations that they may have fabricated a report of an armed mugging.
U.S Olympic swimmer Jack Conger is seen driving away after being mobbed by the media and onlookers while leaving the police station after questioning on August 18, 2016.
Bentz and Conger gave testimony late Thursday.
“With this, they are prohibited from leaving the country”. Police say the swimmers’ accounts conflict, and details are murky.
Police began investigating the incident after Lochte told US television they had been robbed by gunmen impersonating police officers who pulled over their taxi in the early hours of Sunday, as they returned to the Athletes’ Village from a party.
Previously on August 14th, Lochte was interviewed on camera by NBC’s Billy Bush saying the alleged robber “pulled out his gun, he cocked it and put it to my forehead and said “get down”. I refused, I was like, ‘We didn’t do anything wrong, so – I’m not getting down on the ground’.
Account: The dramatic account given by Ryan Lochte to Billy Bush on NBC claimed they were in a taxi when they were robbed at gunpoint.
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Rio Games organisers on Thursday defended the four swimmers whose accounts of an armed robbery at the weekend are under question by Brazilian police, saying they were just kids who were having fun and made a mistake.
