Brazilian police reported Thursday that there's evidence U.S. Olympic swimmers Ryan Lochte, Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, and James Feigen "fabricated" their story about being robbed at gunpoint early Sunday morning in Rio de Janeiro. Video footage reportedly shows one of the four swimmers "breaking down" the door to a restroom at a gas station and then "fighting" with a security guard, ABC News' Matt Gutman reported.
Lochte originally said he and his teammates were pulled over by armed men posing as police officers while taking a taxi back to the Olympic athletes village. But then, Lochte told NBC's Matt Lauer on Wednesday night that the robbery actually took place after they'd stopped to use a gas station bathroom: "[The swimmers] got back to the taxi, and when they told the taxi driver to go, he didn't move," Lauer said, recounting what Lochte had told him. "They said 'let's go' again, 'We've got to get out of here,' and again the taxi driver didn't move. And that's when [Lochte] says two men approached the car with guns and badges," Lauer said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
While Lochte has already returned to the U.S., his three teammates are set to meet with Brazilian law enforcement Thursday; Conger and Bentz were taken off their flight by Brazilian authorities Wednesday as they attempted to return to the U.S., while Feigen never left the country. Police have uncovered inconsistencies in the swimmers' accounts of the incident and have yet to find much evidence, including the driver of the taxi where the robbery allegedly took place.
-
How will the new Repayment Assistance Plan for student loans work?the explainer The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will replace existing income-driven repayment plans
-
In the Spotlight Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been at odds with US forces
-
Music reviews: Ethel Cain, Amaarae, and The Black KeysFeature "Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You," "Black Star," and "No Rain, No Flowers"
-
Trump orders NFL team to change name, or elseSpeed Read The president wants the Washington Commanders to change its name back to the 'Redskins'
-
Thunder beat Pacers to clinch NBA FinalsSpeed Read Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals
-
MLB lifts ban on Pete Rose, other dead playersspeed read 16 deceased players banned for gambling and other scandals can now be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
-
Canada beats US in charged 4 Nations hockey finalSpeed Read 'You can't take our country — and you can't take our game,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted after the game
-
Eagles trounce Chiefs in Super Bowl LIXspeed read The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22
-
Indian teen is youngest world chess championSpeed Read Gukesh Dommaraju, 18, unseated China's Ding Liren
-
Europe roiled by attacks on Israeli soccer fansSpeed Read Israeli fans supporting the Maccabi Tel Aviv team clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters in 'antisemitic attacks,' Dutch authorities said
-
New York wins WNBA title, nearly nabs World SeriesSpeed Read The Yankees with face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the upcoming Fall Classic
