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Two-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Klete Keller surrendered to federal authorities on Thursday on charges related to his alleged involvement in the riots on the United States Capitol last week.
Keller, who won five medals at three Olympics in the 2000s, was charged with three felonies in U.S. District Court in Denver and was released without bail, according to the Republic of Arizona.
The charges were unveiled Wednesday before he surrendered and the judge detailed them along with the maximum sentences at a court hearing on Thursday. Keller could face additional charges as well.
Keller faces charges at court hearing
According to a criminal complaint filed by a US District Court in Washington, DC, the 38-year-old is charged with:
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Obstruction of law enforcement agencies engaged in official functions related to civil unrest
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Knowingly entering or remaining in any building or restricted land without legal authorization
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Violent entry and disorderly conduct for cardinal reasons
The former carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, Judge Michael E. Hegarty said during the hearing, via the Republic. Each of the charges carries a maximum fine of $ 250,000. According to the Washington Post, Keller could face up to 15 and a half years in prison.
Keller is not allowed to leave Colorado except to visit his children in North Carolina. He worked as a commercial real estate agent until Tuesday, when he was identified in photos of the Capitol riot.
Capitol riot video reportedly shows Keller
Keller was reportedly part of the mob that invaded the U.S. Capitol last Wednesday as Congress certified the 2020 election results won by Joe Biden. The invasion left five people dead.
SwimSwam first reported the news of Keller’s involvement in the attack and several people have confirmed his identity to the New York Times. Video shows a tall man in a US Team jacket as people identified as Keller inside the Capitol Rotunda as police attempt to restrain rioters. At 6ft 6in, he’s easy to spot in a crowd.
The Washington Post has also confirmed his identity in interviews with other Olympic medalists.
Keller’s social media accounts have been disabled. SwimSwam and Keller’s friends who spoke with the Post reported that the accounts contained numerous posts supporting Donald Trump before they were deleted.
Keller’s Olympic history with the US team
Keller helped the US team win gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the 2008 Olympics in Bejing. The group included Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.
He has two bronze medals in the 400m freestyle in Athens and the 2000 Games in Sydney. He also helped win silver in the 4x200m relay in Sydney.
Keller retired from competitive swimming in 2008.
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee did not name Keller in a statement released Wednesday, but addressed reports of a former athlete involved and “strongly condemned” the rioters’ actions.
There have been calls for Keller to be stripped of his medals and former teammates are upset that he wore the Team USA costume during the riot.
The USOPC does not have the capacity to win medals because only the International Olympic Committee can. He took them from athletes who broke doping rules or other competition regulations.
He reportedly struggled to adjust to life after the Olympics, according to reports from The Post, The Associated Press and a 2014 article from the USA Swimming website. He made no comment on the charges.
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