Klete Keller, Olympic medalist in Swimming, has been charged over the January 6 attack on Congress by supporters of Donald Trump.
KELLER WAS RECOGNIZED THROUGH VIDEO FOOTAGE
Video records showed Keller as part of the crowd that illegally entered Rotunda Hall by attacking and breaking through the police lines. The 6’6″ swimmer was visibly one of the tallest members of the attacking public.
Keller was charged for knowingly entering a restricted territory without any legal authority, and for illegal conduct on US Capitol grounds. The charges also included the attempt to obstruct law enforcers who were engaged in duty.
According to FBI special agent Matthew R Barofsky’s documents, he was recognized when his picture was compared and matched with the photograph on his driving license. Keller was seen wearing what seemed to be a team jacket of the United States Olympic Team. He was recognized not just by FBI but by news outlets as well, including Swimswam, which deals with the ins and outs of professional swimming.
USA SWIMMING AND US OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE REACTED TO THE INCIDENT
“We respect private individuals’ and groups’ rights to peacefully protest but in no way condone the actions taken by those at the Capitol last week,” said USA Swimming to CNN.
“We support the right to peacefully protest and express values and viewpoints in a respectful and lawful manner — that is what makes our democracy strong. Sadly, that is not what happened in this case,” The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee commented.
KELLER IS MOST FAMOUS FOR HIS BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE IN THE 2004 ATHENS OLYMPICS
He won medals at the 2000, 2004, and 2008 Summer Olympics in the 400-meter freestyle and the 4×200-meter freestyle relay. During the 4×200-meter freestyle relay in Athens in 2004, he, in a magical performance, held off a charging Ian Thorpe in the anchor leg to win the race by 0.13 seconds. This was the first time Australia had been beaten in the event in over seven years. The moment and Keller’s performance is still considered one of the greatest Olympic relays of all-time.
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