See below for an update.
Brazilian authorities say they have video of the four U.S. Olympic swimmers who claim to have been robbed “fighting” with a gas station security guard. This video suggests they “fabricated” their robbery story.
“#RyanLochte + 3 swimmers fabricated robbery story,” tweeted ABC reporter Matt Gutman, citing authorities in Brazil. “Video shows swimmer ‘fighting’ w/security at gas station.”
#BREAKING Brazil sources: #RyanLochte + 3 swimmers fabricated robbery story. Video shows swimmer “fighting” w/security at gas station @GMA
— Matt Gutman (@mattgutmanABC) August 18, 2016
The police source told ABC News that “one of the swimmers was seen on CCTV footage breaking down the door to the bathroom at the gas station and fighting with a security guard” on the night of the incident. Perhaps they suspect the swimmers fabricated the robbery to cover up their lawless activities.
Brazilian police have questioned the swimmers’ report that they were robbed Sunday night, even going so far as ordering the passports of two of the men in question seized so they could not leave the country. Due to discrepancies in their stories, Ryan Lochte and James Feigen were ordered to turn over their passports. Lochte had already left the country. Police ordered Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger, the two other swimmers who claimed they were robbed, off their plane on Wednesday night. Bentz and Conger were taken to the police station for questioning and released early Thursday morning. Here is the video of them leaving the police station, swarmed by reporters:
Insane media scrum. Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger have been released. Atty says they did not give a statement. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/KJWvaj8EDp — Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) August 18, 2016
Lochte has generally stuck with his story of the robbery, factoring in the gas station report. He told NBC News’ Matt Lauer Wednesday night that the swimmers used a restroom at a gas station and when they got back to their taxi, the driver didn’t move. Then two men approached with guns and badges and told them to get out and get down.
Even this story conflicts with early reports from Lochte and Feigen, however. According to one report, it was only one robber with a gun. Another told of multiple men, but only one of them carried a firearm. These discrepancies sparked the police questioning.
The police allegations have not yet been proven, and the video has not been released. Another video of the swimmers returning to the Olympic pavilion in good spirits and with their phones on Sunday night has also not been verified.
UPDATE: Brazilian police say that 2 security guards at the gas station pointed guns at the U.S. Olympic swimmers. Did they take their wallets, too? Just when the story started to make sense, suddenly it didn’t.
BREAKING: Brazil police official: 2 security guards pointed guns at US Olympic swimmers during gas station confrontation.
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 18, 2016
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