Former USC Star Swimmer Pleads Guilty To Role In Capitol Riot

Los Angeles CA

29 September, 2021

7:11 PM

Description

WASHINGTON, DC —Former University of Southern California swimming star, and five-time Olympic medalist, Klete Keller pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to one charge stemming from his participation in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to several reports. Keller, 38, who lives in Colorado, made a brief appearance in court where he pleaded guilty to a single charge of obstructing an official proceeding, which is a felony and carries an estimated sentencing range from 21 to 27 months, according to NBC News. In return for the plea, the government dropped another felony charge and five misdemeanor counts against Keller, who won three individual NCAA titles at USC and was a member of the U.S. 800-meter free relay teams that won gold at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. In court Wednesday, Keller's attorney Edward MacMahon told the judge that his client "is trying to make amends for his terrible mistake," and "wants to start his life over," NBC News reported. According to NBC News, prosecutors have asked the judge to delay sentencing because Keller has agreed to cooperate in their investigation of the Capitol riot, and Keller could be called to testify in related court cases. In a January 2021 story, the New York Times quoted former USC coach Mark Schubert, who said he had received a call from Keller after the Jan. 6 riot. "He kept repeating, 'You've done so much for me, and I let you down.' He kept saying over and over, 'I didn't mean for any of this to happen,'" Schubert said.