Olympian swimmer Klete Keller indicted in connection with riot on Capitol Hill



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U.S. Olympic swimmer Klete Keller was indicted on Wednesday in connection with the deadly Capitol riot last week, court records show.

A criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC, showed that Keller was charged with obstructing law enforcement, knowingly entering or staying in a building or restricted land without legal permission and a violent entry and disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds.

Videos appear to show the Olympic gold medalist inside the Capitol Rotunda on Jan.6 wearing a team jacket at the US Olympics. As protesters clashed with police, law enforcement officers can be seen attempting fend off the crowd this included a man who appears to be Keller. SwimSwam, a news website that covers competitive swimming, first identified Keller as possibly one of a member of a crowd supporting Trump that attacked the Capitol. The New York Times also spoke to former anonymous teammates and coaches who said he was part of the crowd.

Federal agents confirmed it was Keller in the videos in part by matching the photo of his Colorado driver’s license with the person seen in the footage, according to the criminal complaint signed by FBI Special Agent Matthew R. Barofsky. Keller, who is 6 feet 6 inches tall, also stood out as one of the taller people in the videos, according to the complaint.

Klete Keller
Klete Keller in 2008.

Donald Miralle / Getty


Keller was on the US swim team at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Along with Michael Phelps, he was a member of the relay team that won gold in the 4X200m freestyle in 2004 and 2008. The team also set a new world record in the same event at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Melbourne in 2007. Before law enforcement identified Keller as a participant in the riot, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee released a statement to CBS News on Tuesday condemning last week’s actions.

“We support the right to demonstrate peacefully and to express values ​​and views in a respectful and legal manner – this is what makes our democracy strong. Unfortunately, this is not what happened. in this case, “the committee said.

Keller also resigned from real estate firm Hoff & Leigh in Colorado Springs, Colo., Where he worked as an independent contractor, according to a company statement.

“Hoff & Leigh supports the right to free speech and legal protest, but we cannot tolerate actions that violate the rule of law,” the company said.

The riot left five people dead, including a Capitol police officer. House Democrats accused President Trump of instigating the attack on Capitol Hill and voted on Wednesday to remove him for the second time. Ten House Republicans also voted in favor of impeachment.



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