Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 38
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Charges
- Civil Disorder; Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Impeding Passage Through the Capitol Grounds or Buildings; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Klete Keller is among the most prominent defendants charged in connection with the rioting at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Keller is a retired athlete who won five Olympic medals — including two gold medals — for swimming. Soon after the rioting, photos emerged of Keller allegedly joining the mob inside the Capitol while wearing a jacket labeled "USA," with a red and white patch for the U.S. Olympic Team. Keller is 6 feet, 6 inches tall, and investigators said his height helped identify him among the large crowd. After Keller was charged, USA Swimming issued a statement condemning Keller's alleged actions. "Mr. Keller's actions in no way represent the values or mission of USA Swimming," the statement reads. "And while once a swimmer at the highest levels of our sport — representing the country and democracy he so willfully attacked — Mr. Keller has not been a member of this organization since 2008." Keller also resigned from his position with a commercial real estate company, The Los Angeles Times reported. One of Keller's former coaches told The New York Times that Keller had apologized for joining the rioting. “He kept repeating, ‘You’ve done so much for me, and I let you down,’ " coach Mark Schubert told the newspaper. "He kept saying over and over, ‘I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.’ ”
Case History
Keller pleaded Guilty to one charge: Obstruction of an Official Proceeding. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 12/1/2023 to three years probation; six months of home detention; 360 hours of community service; $2,000 restitution; $100 special assessment. Keller received a full pardon on January 20, 2025
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.