Five-time Olympic swimming medallist Klete Keller pleaded guilty
to a felony charge on Wednesday for storming the US Capitol during the January
6 riot and faces 21 to 27 months in prison. During a brief appearance in
federal court in Washington, Keller pleaded guilty to a single charge of
obstructing an official proceeding.

Keller acknowledged in court records that he attempted to
obstruct Congress’ certification of President Joe Biden’s Electoral College
victory, brushed away officers who tried to remove him from the Capitol Rotunda
and yelled profane comments about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as he stood near officers wearing riot gear.

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Klete Keller’s attorney, Edward MacMohan, told the judge that
the swimming star “is trying to make amends for his terrible mistake,” is embarrassed,
and “wants to start his life over,” according to NBC News.

The 39-year-old swimming star also acknowledged that he threw
away the distinctive US Olympic team jacket he wore during the riot and
destroyed his phone and memory card containing photographs and videos he took
inside the Capitol.

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On Wednesday, Klepper pleaded guilty to obstructing an official
proceeding and agreed to cooperate with authorities as part of his plea agreement.
Prosecutors asked the judge to defer sentencing and said that Keller has agreed
to cooperate in their investigation of the Capitol riot and could be called
upon to testify in related court proceedings.

Klete Keller was arrested in January from his Colorado home. His
arrest had drawn nationwide attention at the time. The 39-year-old former
athlete has participated in three Olympic Games and won five medals, including
two gold. Keller was also a relay teammate of swimming legend Michael Phelps.

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When investigation into the Capitol riots ensued, Keller was
widely recognised in photos and videos taken inside the Capitol Rotunda on
January 6, partly due to his 6-foot-6-inch height. An FBI document charging
Keller wrote that he “appears to be one of the tallest individuals in the video
depicting individuals in the Rotunda.”

(With inputs from Associated Press)