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

From: NBC News

Jack Conger

 Two 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. A spokesman for the U.S. Olympic Committee confirmed that they were removed from the flight by Brazilian authorities.

Tourism Police Department of Rio Det. Alexandre Braga said Conger and Bentz have had their passports "temporarily confiscated by a court order."

Gunnar Bentz

Bentz and Conger were released by authorities "with the understanding that they would continue their discussions about the incident on Thursday," USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said. The two were seen leaving the airport police station early Thursday, where they were surrounded by media before getting into a black vehicle. It didn't appear either made any statements.

On Wednesday, a Brazilian judge 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.

Ostrow said Conger and Bentz had not been specifically named by the judge who had wanted Lochte's and fellow U.S. swimmer Jimmy Feigen's passports seized.

Lochte already left Brazil and is in the U.S. Feigen is still in Brazil and is cooperating with local authorities and "intends to make further statements" on Thursday, the USOC spokesman said. Sources at Rio's airport told NBC News Feigen checked in for a flight online but never showed up.

Brazilian judge Keyla Blanc De Cnop said Lochte and Feigen gave contradictory accounts of the robbery, according to the court's statement. The men also said the robbery took place on the way home from a club, which they left at 4 a.m. But security video showed them leaving at a different time, the judge said.

Lochte told the TODAY Show's Matt Lauer in a telephone interview Wednesday night 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.

Lauer said he asked Lochte about skepticism that his story may have been fabricated but the swimmer balked at that suggestion.

"He strongly denied that, said it's absolutely not the case," Lauer said.

"I wouldn't make up a story like this nor would the others — as a matter of fact we all feel it makes us look bad," Lauer said, quoting Lochte. "We're victims in this and we're happy that we're safe."

Multiple sources told NBC Sports that Conger and Bentz were in their seats on the plane when authorities came on shortly before takeoff and removed them.

They were held at the airport Wednesday night but were treated courteously, the sources said. Authorities have indicated they want to know what happened during the early morning robbery, the sources said.

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. government was aware of the situation. "We have seen media reports that two U.S. citizen athletes were detained. We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance," Kirby said in a statement.

Judge De Cnop had said Lochte and Feigen gave contradictory accounts of the robbery, according to the court's statement. Lochte told police there was one robber, while Feigen said there were more, one of whom had a gun.

Earlier Wednesday, Ostrow responded to that claim telling NBC News: "That's BS. Ryan has always maintained there were number of them. I don't know if three or four, but a number of them. If one guy walked up to him, he probably would've kicked his ass."

Ostrow also noted that the Brazilian police didn't speak English well.

The men also said the robbery took place on the way home from a club, which they claimed they left at 4 a.m. But security video showed them leaving at a different time, the judge said.

Lochte repeated his story of what happened in large part, but a few details changed, Lauer said during NBC Sports coverage of the Olympics Wednesday night.

In an interview with TODAY's Billy Bush on Sunday, just hours after the alleged robbery, Lochte had said the gun was put against his forehead — but said in the telephone conversation that the gun was pointed in his general direction but the weapon was cocked, Lauer reported.

Lochte did not repeat part of his story that their taxi was pulled over by the robbers, Lauer said. Lochte said Wednesday they were at a gas station and got back in the taxi, the taxi driver did not move, and it was then that two robbers with guns and badges approached the car and ordered the swimmers out of the vehicle and onto the ground, Lauer said.

Ostrow said Lochte gave police a statement as representatives from the U.S. State Department, United States Olympic Committee and the FBI observed. Lochte signed the statement to attest to its truthfulness, Ostrow said.

Police did not ask Lochte for more information, and they did not ask him to remain in Brazil, Ostrow said.

"They never said, 'Stay around,'" Ostrow said. "Otherwise, I would have advised Ryan to stay."

He accused Brazilian authorities of trying to "save face" after allowing the incident to become "a circus."

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.