Five-time Olympic medallist Klete Keller pleaded guilty to a felony for participating in the January 6 insurrection. AP
Five-time Olympic medallist Klete Keller pleaded guilty to a felony for participating in the January 6 insurrection. AP
Five-time Olympic medallist Klete Keller pleaded guilty to a felony for participating in the January 6 insurrection. AP
Five-time Olympic medallist Klete Keller pleaded guilty to a felony for participating in the January 6 insurrection. AP

World

US

Olympic swimmer Klete Keller who stormed US Capitol pleads guilty to felony

Olympian admitted to throwing away US team jacket worn during riot and destroying phone containing pictures from Capitol

Associated Press

September 30, 2021

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Five-time Olympic swimming medallist Klete Keller pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a felony charge for storming the US Capitol during the January 6 riot and faces a maximum of 27 months in prison.

Keller acknowledged in court records that he tried to obstruct Congress’s certification of President Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory, brushed away officers who tried to remove him from the Capitol Rotunda and yelled profane comments about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as he stood near officers wearing riot gear.

He also acknowledged throwing away the distinctive US Olympic team jacket he wore during the riot and destroying his phone and memory card containing photos and videos he took inside the Capitol.

Keller, 39, who grew up in Arizona and now lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, competed in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. He won two golds and a silver as a member of the 800-metre freestyle relay as well as a pair of individual bronzes in the 400 free.

He pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding and agreed to co-operate with authorities as part of his plea deal.

An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of former president Donald Trump gather in front of the US Capitol Building in Washington, US, January 6, 2021. Reuters
An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of former president Donald Trump gather in front of the US Capitol Building in Washington, US, January 6, 2021. Reuters
A supporter of US President Donald J. Trump sits on the desk of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after supporters of US President Donald J. Trump breached the US Capitol security in Washington. EPA
A supporter of US President Donald J. Trump sits on the desk of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after supporters of US President Donald J. Trump breached the US Capitol security in Washington. EPA
Police detain a person as supporters of US President Donald Trump protest outside the US Capitol. AFP
Police detain a person as supporters of US President Donald Trump protest outside the US Capitol. AFP
Protesters enter the US Capitol Building. AFP
Protesters enter the US Capitol Building. AFP
A protester holds a Trump flag inside the US Capitol Building near the Senate Chamber. AFP
A protester holds a Trump flag inside the US Capitol Building near the Senate Chamber. AFP
US Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP
US Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP
Members of congress run for cover as protesters try to enter the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP
Members of congress run for cover as protesters try to enter the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP
Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol. AFP
Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol. AFP
Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol. AFP
Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol. AFP
Congress staffers hold up their hands while Capitol Police Swat teams check everyone in the room as they secure the floor of Trump supporters. AFP
Congress staffers hold up their hands while Capitol Police Swat teams check everyone in the room as they secure the floor of Trump supporters. AFP
US Capitol Police stand detain protesters outside of the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP
US Capitol Police stand detain protesters outside of the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP
A supporter of US President Donald Trump sits at a desk after invading the Capitol Building. AFP
A supporter of US President Donald Trump sits at a desk after invading the Capitol Building. AFP
A protester sits in the Senate Chamber. AFP
A protester sits in the Senate Chamber. AFP
Pro-Trump protesters tear down a barricade as they clash with Capitol police during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results by the US Congress. Reuters
Pro-Trump protesters tear down a barricade as they clash with Capitol police during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results by the US Congress. Reuters
Police hold back supporters of US President Donald Trump as they gather outside the US Capitol's Rotunda. AFP
Police hold back supporters of US President Donald Trump as they gather outside the US Capitol's Rotunda. AFP
Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol's Rotunda. AFP
Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol's Rotunda. AFP
A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber. AFP
A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber. AFP
Riot police prepare to move demonstrators away from the US Capitol. AFP
Riot police prepare to move demonstrators away from the US Capitol. AFP
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol. AFP
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol. AFP
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces, as they storm the US Capitol. AFP
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces, as they storm the US Capitol. AFP
A supporter of US President Donald Trump wears a gas mask as he protests after storming the US Capitol. AFP
A supporter of US President Donald Trump wears a gas mask as he protests after storming the US Capitol. AFP
Pro-Trump supporters storm the US Capitol following a rally. AFP
Pro-Trump supporters storm the US Capitol following a rally. AFP
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol. AFP
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol. AFP
US President Donald Trump is seen on TV from a video message released on Twitter addressing rioters at the US Capitol, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP
US President Donald Trump is seen on TV from a video message released on Twitter addressing rioters at the US Capitol, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC. AFP
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC. AFP
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest in the US Capitol Rotunda. AFP
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest in the US Capitol Rotunda. AFP
Paramedics perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a patient. AFP
Paramedics perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a patient. AFP
A wounded protester is carried on barricade as demonstrators breach the US Capital building grounds. Bloomberg
A wounded protester is carried on barricade as demonstrators breach the US Capital building grounds. Bloomberg
US Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi preside over a joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol earlier in the day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. EPA
US Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi preside over a joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol earlier in the day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. EPA
Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of the morning, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington. AP
Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of the morning, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington. AP
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Updated: September 30, 2021, 3:54 PM
US