OT: US Swimmers removed from airplane by Brazilian authorities

Submitted by Go Blue in NC on

Per USOC, USA swimmers Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were removed from their flight back to the US by Brazilian authorities this evening. Obviously limited information at this point and I know another thread addresses this issue but figured it would get buried. Will update the OP as more info comes out.

Link: https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/766091610102915072

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Muttley

August 18th, 2016 at 9:14 AM ^

And are these two just getting caught up in Lochte's public statement, now that Lochte is back in the US?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3746324/U-S-Olympic-swimmers-Gunnar-Bentz-Jack-Conger-REMOVED-flight-Brazilian-authorities-following-Ryan-Lochte-s-claim-robbed-gunpoint.html

 

CHANGES IN LOCHTE'S ROBBERY STORY

Sunday: The taxi he was driving in was side-swiped and forced to pull over to a gas station when a group of robbers approached the vehicle.

Wednesday: The taxi was already stopped at the gas station because some of the men had to use the bathroom. 

Sunday: The robber held a gun to his temple when he refused to get down on the ground, at which point he followed his orders.

Wednesday: The robber pointed a gun at him, but not at his head. He also claims that he told the robber he refused to get down, saying to the robber: 'If you've got a gun you can use it.'

 

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

'Ryan Lochte will likely not be extradited back to Brazil despite a judge’s order demanding he remain in the country and is probably in the clear so long as official charges are not filed against him in the case. 

'Should that happen though there would could be international proceedings, but that would not happen until much further down the line. 

'The three men who are still in Brazil however are subject to that country's laws, and could be looking at up to six months in prison if they are charged with giving false statements to police. 

'It is unknown if the men have lawyers but, just like in the United States, they do have the right to remain silent under questioning. 

'Should it be determined that the entire story was made up, Lochte and the other men could be charged with false communication of a crime, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail in Brazil.'

 

Three years for "False communication of a crime" if that's being applied to going on TV & lying seems rather third-worldly to me.

Lochte, on the other hand, will deservedly take a hit in his endorsement appeal as it seems as he's not been straightforward, at the very least.

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I Like Burgers

August 17th, 2016 at 10:20 PM ^

Because they reported a false crime...which is a crime. Also they are foreigners in Brazil country and they just massively embarrassed Brazil. This is a big story to Brazilians at the moment and they are kinda pissed. Most of them knew it was bullshit from the get go.



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bacon

August 18th, 2016 at 6:27 AM ^

There are only 4 and their circles are relatively small. The US also has a lot of cities, so it's not surprising that we'd have good representation on there. Im surprised DC didn't make the list, but then again the violent areas of DC are pretty concentrated. If they took a more focused look at the peaks within the city (instead of averaging over the whole city) then DC would be up there.

Joined: 01/04/2009

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gmoney41

August 18th, 2016 at 10:19 AM ^

Exactly,  Chicago is considered one of the violent cities in the country, but as long as you avoid the South Side, you are likely to never encounter that violent side.  I was in Chicago for the Copa America a month or so ago and walked the City with my son every day, and not once did I have any worries.   When I was in Rio a few years back I had no issues, and had a ton of fun.  We were told the areas to avoid, we avoided them and had not a problem.   Sure Brazil has gotten a lot of negative press for this Olympics, and it is mostly deserved, but Brazil is also not some hell hole that everyone wants to make it out to be.  I can understand why this Lochte issue, if his story is false, just pours more gas on the negative fire, and I can understand why the Brazilian authorities would be upset and want to clear this story up.  

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FLwolvfan22

August 18th, 2016 at 12:30 AM ^

At the beginning of the Iraq war two Brazilian soldiers were killed and  President Bush was informed of the coalition losses. "Oh no!, oh no!" the President cried The aide who informed the president was startled by the reaction and said "Mr President, what's the matter?"

The president looked befuddled and said "how manys a brazilian?"

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gwkrlghl

August 18th, 2016 at 5:32 AM ^

Sorry. DId you just suggest he may not be a 'real American' because he's daring to question whether the US or some of its citizens may have wronged another nation.

I too must agree because surely the US has never done anything wrong in its 2,016 years of existence

Joined: 04/13/2012

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UM2k1

August 18th, 2016 at 2:42 AM ^

My understanding of the story is that none of the athletes reported anything to authorities. Brazilian authorities apparently started the investigation based on news reports. This would be akin to the two athletes being pulled off of a flight and detained for slander (or libel, I can't keep them straight).

Joined: 01/29/2009

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schreibee

August 18th, 2016 at 2:57 AM ^

Everything you say may be true, despite the number of doubters here on Mgoblog, but nevertheless nothing you've said raises to the level of removing people from their flight. Let em leave, expose and embarrass them later. Removing people from flights for this type of thing really is demeaning for a country. And their water is filthy! What are they doing about that embarrassment, since you're there?

Joined: 11/02/2009

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aratman

August 18th, 2016 at 1:27 AM ^

This isn't the case you should raise to the level of international incident.  Rape?  Murder?  Bilking a country out of millions for the right to spend billion, none of which it has.  Those are worthy international incidents.  Lying because hooker stole your wallet?  Priceless.  Let the story out everyone will point and laugh at them all butt hurt resolved.

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