Officials in Rio de Janeiro will summon U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte to appear before a Brazilian judge.
He is accused of filing a false police report over the vandalism incident at a Rio gas station. The case sparked an international scandal during the Rio games, and officials said Thursday that police in Brazil have recommended Lochte be charged.
A police detective told NBC news they are closing their investigation into the criminal case this week and will hand it over to Rio’s public prosecutor. A formal document is expected to be sent to a U.S. court asking for cooperation in summoning the swimmer to Brazil.
The 12-time Olympic medalist at first claimed, in an interview with TODAY’s Billy Bush, he and three fellow swimmers were held up at gunpoint. Police said video footage from the gas station proved Lochte gave false statements to them about what had happened.
Since returning to the U.S., Lochte has apologized.
There was no immediate response from a Lochte attorney to the most recent developments.
