Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

big_dog

(4,144 posts)
Wed Aug 17, 2016, 10:54 PM Aug 2016

Two U.S. Swimmers Pulled Off Plane in Rio Amid Robbery Probe

Source: NBS News 15 minutes ago

wo U.S. Olympic swimmers who say they were with Ryan Lochte when they were robbed in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, were removed from a plane at Rio's airport by authorities Wednesday, Lochte's attorney said. Jeff Ostrow, a lawyer representing Lotche, said swimmers Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were taken off the plane late Wednesday.

"We can confirm that Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were removed from their flight to the United States by Brazilian authorities," U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman Patrick Sandusky said. "We are gathering further information." Ostrow said Conger and Bentz had not been specifically named by a Brazilian judge who had wanted Lochte and fellow U.S. swimmer Jimmy Feigen passports seized, but now they are in limbo.

Feigen is still in Brazil, Ostrow said. Sources at the airport told NBC News Feigen checked in for a flight online but never showed up. His passport would have been confiscated, according to the judge's order. Brazilian judge Keyla Blanc De Cnop earlier on Wednesday had ordered Lochte and Feigen to remain in Brazil as authorities investigated their account of being robbed at gunpoint in Rio early Sunday by assailants dressed as police officers.

The judge said Lochte and Feigen gave contradictory accounts of the robbery, according to the court's statement. Lochte told the TODAY Show's Matt Lauer in a telephone interview Wednesday that he returned from Rio Wednesday, and no one told him he should stay in Brazil. Lochte said he told authorities he was reachable and would cooperate.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-rio-summer-olympics/two-u-s-swimmers-pulled-plane-rio-lawyer-n633241

54 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Two U.S. Swimmers Pulled Off Plane in Rio Amid Robbery Probe (Original Post) big_dog Aug 2016 OP
Oh brother. "Italy" all over again. yeoman6987 Aug 2016 #1
At least they were not shot... Helen Borg Aug 2016 #20
Do you think they lied about the robbery? oberliner Aug 2016 #2
Yes, they may have, to cover up something else... Helen Borg Aug 2016 #21
Yeah something about Lochte screams publicity - not a fan flygal Aug 2016 #25
Armstrong vibes! Helen Borg Aug 2016 #33
True - but to be fair armed robbery is a serious problem in Brazil. forest444 Aug 2016 #43
I think they got rolled by someone JustAnotherGen Aug 2016 #44
I get the feeling transsexual prostitute, underage boy/girl, cocaine is gonna be a part of this UMTerp01 Aug 2016 #3
What in the world would they need to concoct the story for? LisaL Aug 2016 #9
What the heck? Those 2 swimmers were not under the judges order ? GusBob Aug 2016 #4
This judge and these cops have now turned a 1 day story into and international incident mackdaddy Aug 2016 #5
This message was self-deleted by its author LisaL Aug 2016 #10
Exactly. LisaL Aug 2016 #27
yeah, I agree. The story was all too plausible, even if they swimmers up to no good on their trip Fast Walker 52 Aug 2016 #31
What? OBenario Aug 2016 #51
Wow. Way to make sure no other athlete ever reports a crime in Brazil! SunSeeker Aug 2016 #6
ITA. LisaL Aug 2016 #7
Good point. They were coming back from a celebratory party. SunSeeker Aug 2016 #11
Remember Laura Ling? oldtime dfl_er Aug 2016 #8
Matt Lauer says moondust Aug 2016 #12
The Games' chief of security had a run in with knife wielding thieves... roamer65 Aug 2016 #13
I predict that after this whole mess, christx30 Aug 2016 #14
IMHO... roamer65 Aug 2016 #15
IMHO, the best of the modern games was Los Angeles 1984. SunSeeker Aug 2016 #16
I hope LA gets them for 2024. roamer65 Aug 2016 #17
Yep, it was very well run. SunSeeker Aug 2016 #18
They would have to build an Olympic Village to house the athletes ripcord Aug 2016 #29
They also arrested Patrick Hickey, a 71-year old IOC official, in the middle of the night. ucrdem Aug 2016 #19
WTF? SunSeeker Aug 2016 #22
Due process? He was arrested. Ace Rothstein Aug 2016 #46
Exclusive: Team GB member held up at gunpoint at Rio Olympics MowCowWhoHow III Aug 2016 #23
Is this retaliation for dismal performance of many Brazilian athletes? pediatricmedic Aug 2016 #24
They just need to lose the gold medal match in soccer VWolf Aug 2016 #49
Rio will never host the Olympics again, what a bloody mess. redstatebluegirl Aug 2016 #26
This message was self-deleted by its author Odin2005 Aug 2016 #28
No it isnt dkhbrit Aug 2016 #32
Really? LisaL Aug 2016 #35
There's the video evidence too dkhbrit Aug 2016 #36
"If they've been truthful they have nothing to worry about." Curtland1015 Aug 2016 #38
Why would Brazil make a big deal out of this? OBenario Aug 2016 #53
Video evidence? LisaL Aug 2016 #39
They have not been asked to stay. rtw Aug 2016 #42
Detaining international athletes by force in this manner is ridiculous, sorry. THEY are being anneboleyn Aug 2016 #47
Wait... OBenario Aug 2016 #54
This is really an offensive post philosslayer Aug 2016 #34
"Brazil is such a fucking shit hole." a la izquierda Aug 2016 #50
Tourists get robbed all the time. Do they go thru this much trouble to find the bandits? GusBob Aug 2016 #30
So dkhbrit Aug 2016 #37
Who says they returned later than when they said they did? LisaL Aug 2016 #40
OMG!! You are so right! That is such an horrific crime! The poor brutalized victims! GusBob Aug 2016 #41
"Do they go thru this much trouble to find the bandits?" OBenario Aug 2016 #52
The plot thickens. Ace Rothstein Aug 2016 #45
It was all bullshit BeyondGeography Aug 2016 #48

Helen Borg

(3,963 posts)
21. Yes, they may have, to cover up something else...
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 03:29 AM
Aug 2016

Or just because they are addicted to attention. In which case, I would also wonder about what else they may be lying about. There are lots of undetectable drugs and methods to cheat...

forest444

(5,902 posts)
43. True - but to be fair armed robbery is a serious problem in Brazil.
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 09:48 AM
Aug 2016

The first and - knock wood - only time I've ever stared down the barrel of a gun (a semi-automatic), was on a beach outside Rio some years ago.

It was secluded and beautiful; a lot like Big Sur. Except, of course, it's not Big Sur - and don't get me started on the Brazilian police and their "tolls."

Having said that, it is indeed possible Lochte is lying to cover up something illicit on his part. Who knows.

 

UMTerp01

(1,048 posts)
3. I get the feeling transsexual prostitute, underage boy/girl, cocaine is gonna be a part of this
Wed Aug 17, 2016, 11:02 PM
Aug 2016

.....or maybe all 3. I mean things just seem a bit fishy here with this story but I wouldn't be surprised if the boys had gotten into a "situation" and needed to concoct this story. But why lie about that and why lie about something that could be so easily verifiable? Althought, Lochte isn't exactly high IQ.

mackdaddy

(1,520 posts)
5. This judge and these cops have now turned a 1 day story into and international incident
Wed Aug 17, 2016, 11:13 PM
Aug 2016

and a giant black eye for Brazil and the entire Olympics there.

Even if they thought is was a made up story they should have just let it go.

Someone on an earlier thread who has visited Rio in the past said that yes the taxi cab cash shake downs were an actual thing there.

My internet psychic powers tell me yes they probably had their cash only taken, and maybe even by dirty rogue cops. As good as anyone else's guess not actually involved.

Response to mackdaddy (Reply #5)

LisaL

(44,962 posts)
27. Exactly.
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 08:27 AM
Aug 2016

Absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence. Just because police can't find evidence that robbery took place doesn't mean it didn't happen. But even if there were no robbery, what is the point of detaining them in Brazil?

 

OBenario

(604 posts)
51. What?
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 04:41 PM
Aug 2016

"Even if they thought is was a made up story they should have just let it go. "

Yes, because Americans are exceptionals and above Brazilian laws...

PLEASE, be less "exceptional".

Really.

SunSeeker

(51,369 posts)
6. Wow. Way to make sure no other athlete ever reports a crime in Brazil!
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 12:06 AM
Aug 2016

Unfuckingbelievable.

Brazil is literally poisoning the world's athletes with sewage water, and they have the nerve to yank athletes off a plane and in essence hold them prisoner because some judge doesn't believe their robbery report. And why doesn't she believe them? Because the thieves only took money, not their cell phones, and the men did not look sufficiently distraught upon re-entering the Olympic Village. And no one can locate the taxi driver. Duh! He was probably in on it! This really is outrageous.

LisaL

(44,962 posts)
7. ITA.
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 12:33 AM
Aug 2016

How is one supposed to look "sufficiently distraught" on security tape? Sounds like they were intoxicated, which could easily account for inconsistencies in the story.

SunSeeker

(51,369 posts)
11. Good point. They were coming back from a celebratory party.
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 12:50 AM
Aug 2016

Last edited Thu Aug 18, 2016, 01:36 AM - Edit history (1)

It is safe to assume they had at least a few drinks. As reported:

Lochte said in the telephone interview that he initially didn't want to tell the story of the armed robbery because they were worried they'd broken swim team rules, Lauer said. Once he realized he hadn't broken any rules by being out drinking because he was over 21, Lochte said he felt it was OK to tell the story, Lauer said.
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-rio-summer-olympics/two-u-s-swimmers-pulled-plane-rio-lawyer-n633241

oldtime dfl_er

(6,930 posts)
8. Remember Laura Ling?
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 12:34 AM
Aug 2016

I think it's time to send the Big Dog (Bill Clinton) to Rio to release these guys.

(Not implying Laura Ling did anything wrong!)

moondust

(19,917 posts)
12. Matt Lauer says
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 12:54 AM
Aug 2016

Lochte told him the Brazilian authorities were respectful and did not accuse him of lying. They congratulated him on his successes.

(Lauer talked to Bob Costas during this evening's coverage.)

roamer65

(36,739 posts)
13. The Games' chief of security had a run in with knife wielding thieves...
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 01:00 AM
Aug 2016

outside of Maracana Stadium after the opening ceremony.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-sp-oly-police-lochte-20160817-snap-story.html


There have been other incidents as well.

An Olympic security officer accidentally turning the wrong way into a favela and getting shot to death.

christx30

(6,241 posts)
14. I predict that after this whole mess,
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 01:12 AM
Aug 2016

the next olympics that takes place in Brazil will be about the 3rd week after never. Right before Trump says something honest that we can all get behind.
World Cup isn't looking good either.

roamer65

(36,739 posts)
17. I hope LA gets them for 2024.
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 01:44 AM
Aug 2016

They can run them there using existing venues and do a damn good job of it.

SunSeeker

(51,369 posts)
18. Yep, it was very well run.
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 01:48 AM
Aug 2016

Plus so many Angelenos left town fearing gridlock that there was no one on the freeways. Literally. My friends still talk about those days in August of '84 when you could get from the beach to downtown in 15 minutes.

ripcord

(5,084 posts)
29. They would have to build an Olympic Village to house the athletes
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 08:34 AM
Aug 2016

But there is already talk of turning it into low cost housing after the games.

ucrdem

(15,512 posts)
19. They also arrested Patrick Hickey, a 71-year old IOC official, in the middle of the night.
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 03:06 AM
Aug 2016

On camera no less, catching him naked per Chicago Trib link below. Alleged offense: ticket scalping. So what if he's innocent? And if he isn't, what kind of due process is that?


http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/international/ct-ioc-olympic-executive-ticket-scalping-20160817-story.html

SunSeeker

(51,369 posts)
22. WTF?
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 03:36 AM
Aug 2016

This is insanity. If they're itching to arrest someone, why don't they arrest the pool guy who let the Olympic diving pool turn that nasty green?

Ace Rothstein

(3,109 posts)
46. Due process? He was arrested.
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 10:54 AM
Aug 2016

That is part of the process. It isn't like that gave him a life term without a trial.

MowCowWhoHow III

(2,103 posts)
23. Exclusive: Team GB member held up at gunpoint at Rio Olympics
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 03:40 AM
Aug 2016
Exclusive: Team GB member held up at gunpoint at Rio Olympics

A member of the British Olympic team in Rio has been held up at gunpoint while enjoying a night on the town.

The news has caused deep shock among British athletes and officials – many of whom were looking forward to enjoying Rio’s nightlife after finishing their competitions. It has also led to an unprecedented warning to Team GB members that it is “not worth the risk” to leave the athletes village because of fears they might be targeted if they are seen wearing a British kit.

Details at this stage are sketchy but news of the incident, which happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning, spread quickly among athletes in Rio. It is understood the person in question was in shock but was not seriously hurt.

On Wednesday night British track and field officials responded to the news by sending an email to athletes warning them that if they left the village they would do so at their own risk.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/17/british-athlete-held-at-gunpoint-robbery-rio-olympics

pediatricmedic

(397 posts)
24. Is this retaliation for dismal performance of many Brazilian athletes?
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 06:04 AM
Aug 2016

They only have 12 medals so far, which is pretty bad for a host country.

VWolf

(3,944 posts)
49. They just need to lose the gold medal match in soccer
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 11:51 AM
Aug 2016

to Germany to make their disappointment complete. Seriously, that's the sweetest plum for the Brazilians. For all their success at the World Cup, they've never won gold (men or women). The women were eliminated by Sweden in PK's in the semi's at the Maracanã (which was also the site of their infamous 7-1 loss to Germany in the WC, and their loss to Uruguay in the WC final in 1950).

Response to big_dog (Original post)

dkhbrit

(110 posts)
32. No it isnt
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 08:43 AM
Aug 2016

It isn't a shithole. As usual the keyboard warriors spouting their mouths off without any idea what actually happened. Youve seen the inconsistencies in the story, they are very much entitled to hold the athletes and find out what happened. You might want to recall that Atlanta 1996 was hardly a rip roaring success on the crime front.

LisaL

(44,962 posts)
35. Really?
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 08:49 AM
Aug 2016

So if you report a crime and your stories aren't perfectly consistent police should detain you?

dkhbrit

(110 posts)
36. There's the video evidence too
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 08:58 AM
Aug 2016

And why didn't they immediately report this to police? There are enough inconsistencies to raise doubt so, yes, they should be asked to stay to sort it all out. If they've been truthful they have nothing to worry about.

 

OBenario

(604 posts)
53. Why would Brazil make a big deal out of this?
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 04:49 PM
Aug 2016

It's only hurting the Olympics.

US swimmers created this situation.

LisaL

(44,962 posts)
39. Video evidence?
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 09:18 AM
Aug 2016

They are not looking sufficiently distressed after the alleged robbery? How distressed is one supposed to look?

rtw

(42 posts)
42. They have not been asked to stay.
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 09:29 AM
Aug 2016

They were removed from their plane and had their passports confiscated. Quite different things. These games have coined a new phrase for snafu: That's so Rio.

anneboleyn

(5,611 posts)
47. Detaining international athletes by force in this manner is ridiculous, sorry. THEY are being
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 11:03 AM
Aug 2016

treated like criminals, when all they did was report a crime, with some inconsistencies (welcome to eye witness testimony, which tends to be irregular -- I can think of a number of recent cases in which the victims and/or witnesses of a crime reported different details and yet weren't forcibly detained by police -- plus the guys were drunk and disoriented).

Saying that they have nothing to worry about if they aren't guilty sounds very naive as this certainly is NOT the case in the real world in ANY country and especially not in Rio at the moment (remember that was Bush's argument for justifying mass spying in the U.S.?! This line of "logic" has been used to justify many bad actions by police and gov. powers that be). Rio should not have delayed the plane and taken their passports and detained the athletes. That has the exact opposite effect of encouraging international visitors and even their own citizens from reporting crimes.

 

OBenario

(604 posts)
54. Wait...
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 04:52 PM
Aug 2016

"That has the exact opposite effect of encouraging international visitors and even their own citizens from reporting crimes"

We want tourists to RESPECT our laws. If they don't have this intention, they are not welcomed. Period.

GusBob

(7,286 posts)
30. Tourists get robbed all the time. Do they go thru this much trouble to find the bandits?
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 08:38 AM
Aug 2016

What happened is crooked cops ripped off these guys and now their crooked bosses are doing the same

dkhbrit

(110 posts)
37. So
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 09:01 AM
Aug 2016

So they went as far as hiring body doubles to appear at the security check point to show the athletes returning later than they said they did?

Who knows, this may be a case of corruption, but it doesn't all add up right now and there is certainly a responsibility for those involved to cooperate. The athletes made statements that do not match up to what little evidence the police have. The have every right to investigate further.

GusBob

(7,286 posts)
41. OMG!! You are so right! That is such an horrific crime! The poor brutalized victims!
Thu Aug 18, 2016, 09:23 AM
Aug 2016

Jesus fucking Christ we are a world of outraged tight-asses now aint we?

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Two U.S. Swimmers Pulled ...