USA Swimming has released a statement condemning Klete Keller‘s role during the U.S. Capitol insurrection last week.
Keller is facing criminal charges after law enforcement officers identified the Olympic gold medal swimmer as part of a deadly insurrection of the U.S. Capitol last week.
According to court documents filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday, Jan. 13, the 38-year-old three-time Olympian has been charged with obstructing law enforcement, knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. The charges, which include an arrest warrant, were first reported by USA Today.
An FBI agent wrote in a criminal complaint that he was able to identify the 6-foot-6 Keller, noting the Team USA jacket that Keller, a three-time Olympian, wore during the riot.
“Since first learning of Mr. Keller’s possible involvement in the events of January 6, and awaiting official confirmation or charges by law enforcement, we made it very clear in responses to the media that, while we respect private individuals’ and groups’ rights to peacefully protest, we strongly condemned the unlawful actions taken by those at the Capitol last week,” The USA Swimming statement read. “It is very simple and very clear. Mr. Keller’s actions in no way represent the values or mission of USA Swimming. 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.
“We stand with Team USA and echo their plea to celebrate our diversity of background and beliefs, stand together against hatred and divisiveness, and use our influence to create positive change in our communities.”
The affidavit charges probable cause that Keller violated statutes that make it illegal to “1) knowingly enter or remain in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority to do so; and (2) knowingly, and with intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions, engage in disorderly or disruptive conduct in, or within such proximity to, any restricted building or grounds when, or so that, such conduct, in fact, impedes or disrupts the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions; or attempt or conspire to do so.”