Olympic champion Klete Keller breaks his silence after being pardoned by Donald Trump over January 6 riots
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Olympic gold medalist swimmer Klete Keller has spoken out after being pardoned by Donald Trump on Monday. Keller, 42, threw his USA team jacket in a trash can after he stormed the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack on the seat of American democracy.
![[At 6ft 6, Keller towered over police officers guarding the Capitol and other Trump supporters]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/22/78455225-14314989-Former_Olympic_swimmer_Klete_Keller_was_among_the_rioters_who_st-a-1_1737584947194.jpg)
At 6-foot-6, Keller towered over police officers guarding the Capitol and other Trump supporters who breached the building, and he was quickly identified by authorities. He pleaded guilty in 2021 to a felony charge and was one of the first rioters to publicly agree to cooperate with authorities investigating the Capitol attack. In 2023, he was sentenced to six months of house arrest and three years of probation.
![[On January 6, Keller wore a Team USA Olympic jacket as he joined the mob in Washington]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/22/78455213-14314989-On_January_6_Keller_wore_a_Team_USA_Olympic_jacket_as_he_joined_-a-2_1737584949540.jpg)
During his inauguration on Monday, Trump pardoned about 1,500 of his supporters who attacked the U.S. Capitol four years ago, the vast majority of those convicted in relation to the riot. Those pardoned included leaders of the far-right groups the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys. But that number also included Keller, a five-time Olympic medalist, and he has expressed his relief.
![[Keller, who pled guilty to ‘obstruction of an official proceeding’, is seen entering the Capitol]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/22/78455207-14314989-Keller_who_pled_guilty_to_obstruction_of_an_official_proceeding_-a-3_1737584953164.jpg)
Olympic gold medalist swimmer Klete Keller was pardoned by Donald Trump on Monday. At 6ft 6, Keller towered over police officers guarding the Capitol and other Trump supporters. Speaking to The Washington Post, Keller said: 'It didn't feel real. And waking up this morning, I was like, "My gosh. Wow, this is over. I don't have to check in with my probation officer anymore".
![[He was branded 'an American hero' after helping the US to 4x200m freestyle gold in Athens]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/22/22/78456219-14314989-He_was_branded_an_American_hero_after_helping_the_US_to_4x200m_f-a-4_1737584957577.jpg)
'It's just such an amazing feeling of relief.'. Video captured Keller leading profane chants directed at then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, both Democrats. He also joined a chorus of rioters in singing the national anthem in the middle of the Capitol.
