Olympic gold medalist Klete Keller has been identified as having taken part in theU.S. Capitol riotslast Wednesday, according to reports.
Klete Keller.getty images
Keller was identifiable, according to the report, because he was wearing an U.S. Olympic team jacket and that his protective facemask — meant to be worn to slow the spread of thenovel coronavirus (COVID-19)— was not covering his face.
The video had reportedly been shared widely among the swimming community and theTimesreported that “several people” alerted law enforcement after viewing the clip.
Swimming news websiteSwimSwamwas first to report the news on Monday. The site reported that Keller’s social media accounts have been deleted but he was an “outspoken supporter” of PresidentDonald Trump, according to his past posts.
Neither Keller or his family responded to PEOPLE’s attempts to reach them for comment. Keller has not made any public statements regarding his reported involvement in what Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnelllater denouncedas a “failed insurrection” attempt.
USA Swimming also did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Law enforcement officials from the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigations gave a stern warning Tuesday that rioters who entered the U.S. Capitol would be tracked down and charged.
“Regardless of if it was just a trespass in the Capitol or if someone planted a pipe bomb, you will be charged and you will be found,” said Michael Sherwin, the Acting US Attorney for the District of Columbia.
Keller attended USC before making the Olympics team, swimming on behalf of the U.S. in the 2000, 2004, and 2008 games.
He won five medals during his Olympic career, including two gold medals as a part of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay team, which included Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Peter Vanderkaay. The team won the gold in Athens in 2004 and again four years later, in Beijing.
More recently, Keller was an employee for the commercial real estate firm Hoff & Leigh in Colorado Springs, Colorado,The Washington Postreported. In a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday afternoon, Hoff & Leigh said Keller resigned from the company.
Keller’s former teammates also confirmed the 6-foot-6 swimmer’s identity toThe Post, based on images from the U.S. Capitol riot.
source: people.com
