Olympic gold medalist swimmerKlete Keller has broken his silence after being pardoned by President Donald Trump for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Keller, who was sentenced to six months of house arrest and three years of probation in 2023, expressed his relief and gratitude in an interview with The Washington Post.
“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.’ It’s just such an amazing feeling of relief,” Keller said.
Keller, a five-time Olympic medalist, was one of the nearly 1,600 people pardoned by Trump during his inauguration on Monday. Keller had pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding and was one of the first rioters to publicly agree to cooperate with authorities investigating the Capitol attack.
Looking back on the incident
Reflecting on his actions, Keller expressed regret and acknowledged the impact of his behavior. “I really regret the actions I took that day. I love this country. I’m just so grateful that I have the opportunity now to move forward,” he said.
Keller’s involvement in the Capitol riot and subsequent pardon have sparked a range of reactions, with some praising the decision and others criticizing it as a distraction from more pressing issues.
As Keller moves forward, he hopes to use his experience to educate others and prevent similar incidents in the future. However his support if Donald Trump is undeniable and everyone expects to see him voicing his opinion on national matter soon.