United States swimmer Ryan Lochte holds a press conference on August 3, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, two days ahead of the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Advertisement
U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte will not be responding to Brazilian police charging him with making a false statement, his lawyer says.
Lochte will be informed of the charges in the US and the indictment will be sent to the International Olympic Committee’s Ethics Division.
In an interview with Lauer, Lochte appeared to concede that he knew that the guards were demanding payment for the damage done, not robbing them.
During what should have been an all-around historic Olympic Games for Team U.S.A., Lochte has made them all about himself.
As we’ve reported, Lochte told his mother, police and the press that he and three other USA swimmers were robbed at gunpoint earlier this month after thieves posing as police stopped the taxi they were traveling in.
Recall that Lochte won one gold medal at the Rio Olympics.
Two of the other swimmers involved, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger, were prevented from flying out of Brazil until they had been questioned by police.
The decision comes after four companies, including swimwear giant Speedo, ended their relationships with Lochte following the controversy.
The police said Lochte could decide whether to mount a defense, and he could be tried in absentia. Falsely filing a crime report under Brazilian law carries a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison.
Feigen agreed to donate almost $11,000 to a Brazilian charity to avoid charges. Officers discovered CCTV footage showing the group vandalizing the bathroom of a gas station and fighting with its staff.
Advertisement
But Pine Bros. said Thursday that people should be more understanding and forgiving of the Lochte.
