BRAZILIAN POLICE: Ryan Lochte not Robbed, Security Points Gun at Lochte and American Swimmers for Vandalism in #LochteGate Update [WATCH VIDEO]
Brazilian police officials say Ryan Lochte, and the other American swimmers who claimed to have been assaulted at gunpoint early Sunday morning, had not been robbed. Instead, the athletes were caught vandalising a gas station and security guards pointed a gun at an "intoxicated" and "mad" Lochte in order to calm him down. The incidents involving #LochteGate are continuously updated, as officials investigate the case.
"In theory, one or all of them might be charged for false communication of a crime and for damaging private assets, the gas station," Civil Police chief Fernando Veloso said at a press conference. "I'm not saying that they are charged right now because of that. We have to finalize the investigation and in theory that could be the case. This is not really a -- this kind of crime will not lead to their arrest."
Fans Thought Lochte Lied About the Gun
“The swimmers involved owe apologies to Rio and Brazil. The United States Olympic Committee, as well,” Editor-in-Chief of a Brazilian magazine told the New York Times. A spokesman for the Rio Olympics Committee, Mario Andrada, said the Team USA athletes should be given a break after competing and representing their country under so much pressure.
“No apologies from him or the other athletes are needed,” Andrada said. “They came here they represented their country…Sometimes you take actions that you later regret.”
Information involving the case is being updated with more sources and credible video. CNN is publishing constant updates for the LochteGate case. A recent update said that officials did not deny the fact that a gun was involved. They did not deny that money was involved in the incident as well.
Lochte Assaulted at Gunpoint
During a live broadcast at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Lochte said he and the other swimmers were assaulted at gunpoint. The swimmer said that their taxi was pulled over by men who flashed badges at them. One of the men pointed a cocked gun against his forehead when he refused to get on the floor, he said.
“He took our money, he took my wallet – he left my cell phone, he left my credentials,” Lochte told NBC of Sunday morning’s events.
LochteGate
Fans and critics picked up on the story about Lochte’s claims of a gunpoint assault and called the scandal "LochteGate," after former U.S. President Richard Nixon’s corruption scandal. Fans also took to Twitter to express their feelings towards the situation, making the hash tag, #LochteGate, trend on social media.
“Lochte literally p*ssed on a country that figuratively is tired of being p*ssed on by the Olympics. #LochteGate,” Twitter User Dave Zirin tweeted.
Lochte Passport Seized
Lochte and the other swimmers, James Feigen, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz had slightly changed stories. First, they were pulled over in a taxi. Later, they recalled being in a fight at a gas station which resulted in the gunpoint assault.
Conger and Benz had their passports seized when they tried flying back to the U.S. as Brazil officials cracked to down on the case.
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