Two American Olympic swimmers who were yanked off a homebound flight will not be allowed to leave Brazil until they provide testimony to investigators about a reported robbery that targeted them and a couple of their teammates, their attorney said Thursday.
(FOX)- Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were taken off their flight from Brazil to the U.S. by local authorities as investigators still search for answers regarding the alleged robbery involving them, Ryan Lochte and Jimmy Feigen.
Feigen was ordered to stay in Brazil. He told USA Today that he’s cooperating with authorities. Lochte made it back to the U.S. before authorities could seize his passport.
Conger, Bentz and Feigen were expected to give statements to police on Thursday. A Brazilian official said the questioning would take place in Leblon, south of Rio.
The latest developments come amid increasing tension between Brazilian authorities and the American swimmers over the ever-changing story of the alleged robbery. Police said they have found little evidence so far to support their claims, and that the swimmers were unable to provide key details in interviews.
Lochte said he was with Conger, Bentz and Feigen when they were robbed at gunpoint in a taxi by men with a police badge as they returned to the athletes’ village from a party, several hours after the final Olympic swimming events were held. Lochte claimed he had a gun pointed at his head.
NBC reported Wednesday night that Lochte backed off some of his earlier claims about the robbery. He now says the taxi wasn’t pulled over by men with a badge, but that they were robbed after stopping at a gas station, NBC reported. Lochte also said the assailant pointed a gun at him rather than putting it to his head.
But Lochte also said no one in law enforcement asked him to stay in the country for additional questioning and reportedly expressed surprise at the casual nature of authorities’ questioning.