Olympic gold medalist Klete Keller sentenced to 6 months house arrest for role in Jan 6 Capitol riot

WASHINGTON, DC: Klete Keller, the 41-year-old two-time Olympic gold medalist, was sentenced by DC Senior US District Judge Richard Leon on December 1, 2023 over his admitted role in the US Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

In addition to six months of house arrest, the former champion swimmer also received three years of probation and was ordered to perform 360 hours of community service, reported the New York Post.

After pleading guilty to one count of obstructing an official proceeding in September 2021, Keller told the judge before his sentencing, "I have no excuse for why I am in front of you today. I understand my actions were criminal and that I am fully responsible for my conduct.”

Arguments presented by Kete Keller's lawyers

The lawyers representing Keller asked the judge to sentence him to probation and a restitution payment. In the filed court papers, they argued that his “early acceptance” in being one of the first people to plead guilty in the case warranted leniency.

Attorney Zachary Deubler stated that Keller did not stay at the Capitol for a long time, he did not hurt anyone or damage any property, and he did not have any previous record of being arrested.

“Although Mr Keller’s conduct at the Capitol was inexcusable, his behavior was non-violent—and arguably far less disruptive than many of the (other) defendants … This Court should not lump Mr Keller’s conduct in with some of the more serious offenders but instead should consider Mr Keller’s relatively minor role,” he added.

What did prosecutors say?

The prosecutors had demanded a 10-month sentence for Keller. They argued that the swimmer had tried to conceal his identity by throwing away his jacket and smashing his phone.

At the riot, Keller was seen in a blue jacket with an American flag on a sleeve, an Olympic team patch on the front, and the letters 'U.S.A.' across the back. In their sentencing memo, the prosecutors wrote, "Klete Derik Keller once wore the American flag as an Olympian. On January 6, 2021, he threw that flag in a trash can."

The former athlete was allegedly present inside the Capitol for almost an hour, was seen with a group shoving police officers, and only departed after cops deployed Mace and other force, they added.

However, prosecutors acknowledged that Keller had turned himself in within a week of the riot, cooperated with the federal agents throughout the course of the investigation, and showed remorse for his actions.

When he took the plea deal, prosecutors dropped six other charges initially brought against him, including disorderly conduct, entering a restricted building, and impeding law enforcement.

Olympic medal tally of Klete Keller

Keller bagged the gold in the 4×200-meter relay event at the Summer Olympics in Athens in 2004, and in Beijing in 2008. At the Sydney Games in 2000, Keller won silver in the same event.

At Sydney and Athens, Keller also won an individual bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle event.

After his arrest, Keller had reportedly resigned from his job as a Colorado real estate broker.