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Two-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Klete Keller was among the crowd of supporters of President Donald Trump inside the U.S. Capitol during last week’s insurgency, according to reports.
A video Posted on Twitter by a Townhall Media reporter, a man suspected of being Keller stood in the middle of a group lobbying against police officers trying to clear the Rotunda.
The man is wearing a jacket with the letters “USA” on the back.
The New York Times and The Washington Post said they spoke to former teammates and coaches who identified the man in the video as Keller.
NBC News was unable to independently verify the former Olympian was involved, and calls to the numbers listed for him were not immediately returned on Wednesday.
USA Swimming said it was aware of the reports.
“We respect the rights of individuals and groups to demonstrate peacefully, but in no way condone actions taken by those who were on Capitol Hill last week,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee has said it condemns “violent actions by rioters.”
“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, 38, has not commented publicly on his alleged participation on Capitol Hill, which was first reported by swimming website SwimSwam.
The athlete, who was a teammate of Michael Phelps, was a member of three US Olympic teams. He won gold in the 4×200-meter team relay event in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. He won silver in the event at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
USA Swimming said he was last registered as a member in 2008. After stepping away from the sport, Keller worked as an independent contractor for Hoff & Leigh, a real estate agency in Colorado Springs.
The agency said in a statement that Keller resigned on Tuesday.
“Hoff & Leigh supports the right to free speech and legal protest, but we cannot tolerate actions that violate the rule of law,” the agency said.
“We are proud of our deeply held core values of family, loyalty, community and stewardship. We continue to uphold these values.”
Last Wednesday, hundreds of pro-Trump supporters raped the Capitol to protest the Electoral College vote confirming President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the November election. Five people, including a police officer, were killed in the incursion.
Acting U.S. lawyer in Washington, Mike Sherwin, said last week that 55 people had been charged in connection with the riot for a variety of offenses, including illegal entry, assault, theft and weapons.
Sherwin said federal and local investigators searched social media for photos and videos of suspects engaged in illegal activity and that these people were being arrested as quickly as possible. No video has emerged of Keller’s involvement in acts of violence on the Capitol.
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