What The Heck Is Going On With Ryan Lochte?
On Sunday, it was reported that Ryan Lochte had been robbed at gunpoint in Rio, along with three other US swimmers — Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen and Gunnar Bentz. Since then, the swimmers' story has unraveled, and the latest reports indicate that the robbery story was a complete fabrication, intended to cover up a scuffle with a security guard at a gas station. On Thursday, it was reported that police were considering filing false reporting charges against Lochte and Feigen.
Update [8/19]: Conger, Bentz and Feigen (who must 'donate' $10,800 to a charity before he leaves) will all return to the US on Friday.
Update 2 [8/19]: Ryan Lochte has apologized:
What Lochte Told NBC On Sunday
"We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over," Lochte said. "They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didn't do anything wrong, so — I'm not getting down on the ground. "And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, 'Get down,' and I put my hands up, I was like 'whatever.' He took our money, he took my wallet — he left my cell phone, he left my credentials."
[NBC News]
The US Olympic Committee Initially Backed Lochte's Version Of Events:
According to four members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen and Ryan Lochte), they left France House early Sunday morning in a taxi headed for the Olympic Village. Their taxi was stopped by individuals posing as armed police officers who demanded the athletes' money and other personal belongings. All four athletes are safe and cooperating with authorities.
[Team USA]
The International Olympic Committee, however, was quick to deny that a robbery took place. [Update: The USOC has now apologized for the "distracting ordeal"]
On Tuesday The Swimmers' Story Soon Began To Unravel
[A] police official with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press earlier Tuesday that police cannot find their taxi driver or witnesses, and that the swimmers were unable to provide key details in police interviews.
[ESPN]
And On Wednesday, Two Of The Other Swimmers Were Pulled Off Their Flights Back To The US
Lochte made it back to the US, leaving the country before a judge's order to seize his passport could take effect, but two of the other swimmers didn't make it:
"We can confirm that Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were removed from their flight to the United States by Brazilian authorities," a spokesman for the United States Olympic Committee said. "We are gathering further information." The men were released after agreeing to remain in the country and to speak with investigators about the episode on Thursday, according to officials with the United States Olympic team.
And Now Police Say The Swimmers Damaged A Gas Station And Paid Off The Owner
As the police investigation continues into the alleged robbery of four U.S. Olympic swimmers in Rio, a Brazilian police source told ABC News that "one of the swimmers was seen on CCTV footage breaking down the door to the bathroom at [a] gas station and fighting with a security guard" on the night of the incident. Police told ABC News that the swimmers "offered 100 reals and $20" to compensate for the damage.
[ABC News]
The gas station owner told Rio de Janeiro's O Globo newspaper that the swimmers vandalized his facility and urinated on it.
Security footage shows the three at the station on Saturday night, but doesn't show the bathroom door incident or the fight with the security guard:
Well, Maybe If They All Stick To The Same Story Now…
Welp.
So What Now For Lochte?
Lochte is back in the US and Conger, Bentz and Feigen are set to return (Feigen must pay $10,800 to a charity before he gets his passport back), but it's unclear what will happen next:
[T]he case may be far from settled. Police have said they are considering charges of falsely reporting a crime and destruction of property, both of which can carry up to six months in jail or a fine.
While it is a criminal offence, the U.S. will not extradite Lochte to Brazil. The U.S. and Brazil do have an Extradition Treaty, which provides that one country will surrender an alleged criminal to the other country. The Extradition Treaty lists the crimes that could result in that surrender and includes offences such as murder, larceny, sexual assault, arson and embezzlement. It does not, however, include filing a false police report.
[TSN]
