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Judge Orders Ryan Lochte and James Feigen to Stay in Brazil American Swimmers Pulled Off Plane in Rio
(about 3 hours later)
RIO DE JANEIRO — A Brazilian judge issued an order on Wednesday to prevent Ryan Lochte and James Feigen, two of the American swimmers who claimed they were robbed at gunpoint during the Olympic Games, from leaving the country as doubts emerged about their statements. RIO DE JANEIRO — Two American swimmers were pulled off their flight to the United States by Brazilian authorities, Olympic officials said Wednesday night, the latest indication that the police are skeptical of the swimmers’ claims that they were held up at gunpoint during the Rio Games.
But Lochte, a 12-time Olympic medalist, had left Brazil before the judge issued the order to seize the passports of the swimmers, according to Lochte’s lawyer in the United States. It was not immediately clear if Feigen was still in Brazil. “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.”
In a case that has grabbed headlines around the world, Lochte said that after leaving a party early Sunday, he and three other swimmers — Feigen, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz — were robbed at gunpoint by men who identified themselves as police officers. In a case that has grabbed headlines around the world, the gold medalist Ryan Lochte said that after leaving a party early Sunday, he and three other Olympic swimmers from the United States were robbed at gunpoint by men who identified themselves as police officers.
The idea that such prominent athletes could be robbed by officers during the Olympics was a huge embarrassment for Brazil, underscoring longstanding concerns about holding the Games in a crime-plagued city like Rio de Janeiro.The idea that such prominent athletes could be robbed by officers during the Olympics was a huge embarrassment for Brazil, underscoring longstanding concerns about holding the Games in a crime-plagued city like Rio de Janeiro.
Now, questions about the Americans’ testimony to the police are turning that embarrassment into anger, with many Brazilians wondering whether the athletes lied about the episode and smeared their country’s reputation. But questions about the Americans’ testimony to the police are turning that embarrassment into anger, with many Brazilians wondering whether the athletes lied about the episode and smeared their country’s reputation.
American officials in Brazil and Washington were scrambling on Wednesday night to figure out what was occurring in Rio de Janeiro, according to senior American officials.
“We have seen media reports that two U.S. citizen athletes were detained,” said John Kirby, a State Department spokesman. “We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance.”
Brazilian law enforcement officials have kept American diplomatic and law enforcement officials at arm’s length as they have moved forward with their investigation, according to senior American officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to be identified discussing an ongoing Brazilian investigation.
Earlier Wednesday, a Brazilian judge issued an order to prevent Lochte and James Feigen, the other swimmer involved in the episode, from leaving the country as doubts emerged about their statements.
But Lochte, a 12-time Olympic medalist, had left Brazil before the judge issued the order to seize the passports of the swimmers, according to Lochte’s lawyer in the United States. It was not clear if Feigen was still in Brazil.
Agents from Brazil’s Federal Police, an investigative force that oversees Brazil’s borders, detained Conger and Bentz at Rio’s Galeão International Airport, according to local news reports. Investigators from Rio’s Tourism Police had asked for their passports to be seized so they could respond to questioning in the case.
Shortly after they were removed from the plane, the two men were shown on the Globo television network as they were escorted to a police station in the airport. They declined to talk to television reporter at the entrance to the station.
Investigators have not found evidence corroborating the account, according to local news reports, prompting the judge’s order.Investigators have not found evidence corroborating the account, according to local news reports, prompting the judge’s order.
“You can see the supposed victims arriving without signs of being physically or psychologically shaken, even joking amongst themselves,” Judge Keyla Blanc de Cnop said in a statement, referring to video of the swimmers returning to the Olympic Village after the party.“You can see the supposed victims arriving without signs of being physically or psychologically shaken, even joking amongst themselves,” Judge Keyla Blanc de Cnop said in a statement, referring to video of the swimmers returning to the Olympic Village after the party.
The Brazilian authorities are coming under scrutiny for an array of armed assaults during the Games, despite the deployment of an 85,000-member security force to ease fears about violent crime.The Brazilian authorities are coming under scrutiny for an array of armed assaults during the Games, despite the deployment of an 85,000-member security force to ease fears about violent crime.
Patrick Sandusky, a spokesman for the United States Olympic Committee, said that the police were looking for the two swimmers Wednesday, hoping to collect their passports, but that the athletes were no longer at the Olympic Village. Patrick Sandusky, a spokesman for the United States Olympic Committee, said that the police looked for the two swimmers Wednesday, but that the athletes were no longer at the Olympic Village.
“The swim team moved out of the village after their competition ended, so we were not able to make the athletes available,” Sandusky said. He added that the U.S.O.C.’s security protocol prevented him from confirming the athletes’ current locations.“The swim team moved out of the village after their competition ended, so we were not able to make the athletes available,” Sandusky said. He added that the U.S.O.C.’s security protocol prevented him from confirming the athletes’ current locations.
Lochte’s lawyer, Jeff Ostrow, rejected assertions that his client and the other swimmers might have fabricated details of their accounts, describing such claims as efforts by Brazilian officials to deflect criticism of problems in Rio.Lochte’s lawyer, Jeff Ostrow, rejected assertions that his client and the other swimmers might have fabricated details of their accounts, describing such claims as efforts by Brazilian officials to deflect criticism of problems in Rio.
“The country has a dark cloud over it for a million and one reasons, from their economy to their crime to their management of the Olympics,” said Ostrow, who is based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “My client has cooperated thoroughly with the Brazilian authorities and stands behind his statement.”“The country has a dark cloud over it for a million and one reasons, from their economy to their crime to their management of the Olympics,” said Ostrow, who is based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “My client has cooperated thoroughly with the Brazilian authorities and stands behind his statement.”
Still, there is growing speculation in Brazil that the episode might not have unfolded as the swimmers described it.Still, there is growing speculation in Brazil that the episode might not have unfolded as the swimmers described it.
Lochte told NBC’s “Today” show that men had drawn guns and that one of them had taken his money and wallet, but left his cellphone and credentials.Lochte told NBC’s “Today” show that men had drawn guns and that one of them had taken his money and wallet, but left his cellphone and credentials.
Lochte also told USA Today that the swimmers did not initially tell the U.S.O.C. about what had happened “because we were afraid we’d get into trouble.” He also told USA Today that the swimmers did not initially tell the U.S.O.C. about what had happened “because we were afraid we’d get into trouble.”
Lochte and Feigen told Brazilian investigators that they left the party at Club France, a temporary venue set up to promote the country, at around 4 a.m. Sunday, according to local news reports.Lochte and Feigen told Brazilian investigators that they left the party at Club France, a temporary venue set up to promote the country, at around 4 a.m. Sunday, according to local news reports.
But video cameras showed the swimmers leaving at 5:50 a.m., about an hour before they arrived at the Olympic Village at 6:56 a.m., according to Extra, a Rio newspaper.But video cameras showed the swimmers leaving at 5:50 a.m., about an hour before they arrived at the Olympic Village at 6:56 a.m., according to Extra, a Rio newspaper.
There are other points of confusion in the accounts by Lochte and Feigen, the only swimmers to provide testimony to Brazilian investigators.There are other points of confusion in the accounts by Lochte and Feigen, the only swimmers to provide testimony to Brazilian investigators.
The men, who said they were intoxicated upon leaving the party, said they could not remember the color of the taxi they took, or where exactly the assault took place. Investigators have been unable to find the taxi driver who delivered the swimmers back to the village.The men, who said they were intoxicated upon leaving the party, said they could not remember the color of the taxi they took, or where exactly the assault took place. Investigators have been unable to find the taxi driver who delivered the swimmers back to the village.
A prosecutor in Rio, André Buonora, said in a statement that the swimmers could face charges of providing false testimony if they had lied to investigators.A prosecutor in Rio, André Buonora, said in a statement that the swimmers could face charges of providing false testimony if they had lied to investigators.
Despite the controversy, it is not uncommon for the police in Rio to be implicated in armed assaults.Despite the controversy, it is not uncommon for the police in Rio to be implicated in armed assaults.
Shortly before the Olympics, Jason Lee, a jujitsu champion from New Zealand, said he had been briefly kidnapped by police officers and forced to withdraw about $800 from his bank account.Shortly before the Olympics, Jason Lee, a jujitsu champion from New Zealand, said he had been briefly kidnapped by police officers and forced to withdraw about $800 from his bank account.
Despite a history of such episodes in Rio, many Brazilians have grown defensive over criticism of the city. Some are lashing out at the swimmers, contending that they are hiding something.Despite a history of such episodes in Rio, many Brazilians have grown defensive over criticism of the city. Some are lashing out at the swimmers, contending that they are hiding something.
“So, the American swimmer lied about the robbery?” Mariana Godoy, a prominent television news announcer, asked in a Twitter post in which she implied that Lochte was trying to cover up something untoward. “So, the American swimmer lied about the robbery?” Mariana Godoy, a television news announcer, asked in a Twitter post. She implied that Lochte was trying to cover up something untoward.
“He left one party and went to ‘another party’ and didn’t want to tell Mommy about it?” Godoy wrote.“He left one party and went to ‘another party’ and didn’t want to tell Mommy about it?” Godoy wrote.