Former US Olympian Klete Keller Pleads Guilty To Capital Riot Offence

Former Team USA Olympic medalist Klete Keller has pled guilty to obstructing an official proceeding during the deadly U.S. Capitol riot.

The Olympic swimmer was allegedly an outspoken supporter of then-President Donald Trump, before deleting his social media accounts in the wake of the riots.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Keller originally faced seven federal charges in relation to the January 6 Capitol riots. The 39-year-old agreed to a plea deal, reducing his charges to a single felony in exchange for a guilty plea.

Appearing before a federal court in Washington on Wednesday (29 September), Keller entered a guilty plea for one count of obstructing an official proceeding. He could reportedly face 21 to 27 months jail time.

Keller has represented Team USA at three Olympic Games, securing five medals. He won gold competing in the 4×200 meter freestyle at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The swimmer also achieved the best time in the world competing in the 400 freestyle during the 2006 U.S. Championships.

Keller confessed to being inside the Capitol building for around 50 minutes during the riots, as well as shouting offensive language and resisting law enforcement.

“I destroyed the phone and memory card that contained the photographs and videos I recorded from inside the Capitol building,” Keller admitted in a statement. “I threw away my red, white, and blue ‘USA jacket’.”

A status conference in relation to Keller’s sentencing is scheduled for December 16.

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