Rio Authorities Recommend Indictments for Lochte and Feigen (UPDATE)

ABC News is reporting that Ryan Lochte and US Swimming teammate Jimmy Feigen have been indicted by authorities in Rio De Janiero for false reporting of a crime.

JUST IN: US swimmers Ryan Lochte and James Feigen indicted for false reporting of crime, Brazilian police tell @ABC. https://t.co/SuwGNhJvOb

— ABC News (@ABC) August 18, 2016

Brazilian outlet Globo News is also reporting that the swimmers have been indicted.

Polícia do Rio acaba de indiciar os nadadores Ryan Lochte e James Feigen por falsa comunicação de crime. #GloboNews

— GloboNews (@GloboNews) August 18, 2016

Feigen is still in Rio, while Lochte is back in the US.

Earlier, Law Newz examined whether Lochte could potentially be extradited to Brazil.

Under the United States-Brazilian International Extradition Treaty that was signed in 1962 and enforced in 1964, it states quite clearly that the US and Brazil are not bound to grant extradition of their nationals. However, the treaty states that “if the Constitution and laws of the requested State do not prohibit it, its executive authority shall have the power to surrender a national if, in its discretion, it be deemed proper to do so.”

UPDATE 6:35 p.m. – ABC is reporting that Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were questioned for five hours on Thursday, but were let go by Brazilian authorities.

UPDATE 6:49 p.m. – ABC is now backing off their initial report that Lochte and Feigen have been indicted, saying that authorities have recommended that the swimmers be indicted.

Update: Brazilian police recommend US swimmers Ryan Lochte and James Feigen be indicted for false reporting of crime https://t.co/SvNK2zT1aX

— ABC News (@ABC) August 18, 2016

[image via screengrab]

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