“So you believe him about this, (Not having a gun pointed at his head when the video shows him with his hands up) but he’s absolutely lying about being “sideswiped” and about what time he says he got in after a night of drinking? “
When one makes directly conflicting statements then one is false. No matter which one you disbelieve or believe one fact is certain. He lied.
When an incompetent third world banana republic is holding one of your team mates hostage, you say whatever you need to say to help him get released.
If Brazil demands he recant (the implied threat is that it won't go well for the team mate if he doesn't) his choice is to recant or be faced with the potential incarceration of his team mate.
I would F***ing say anything that ignorant, backward, corrupt, lying third world sh*t-hole demanded I say to get my team mate out of their clutches.