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President Obama Did Meet State Dinner Crashing Couple
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 28, 2009
Modified Nov 28, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 28, 2009
Modified Nov 28, 2009
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The White House released a photograph showing State Dinner crashing couple Michaele and Tareq Salahi meeting President Obama. The Washington Post reports, "The security breach has caused hand-wringing inside the White House, bewilderment among Tuesday night's guests -- and late on Friday, prompted an apology from the Secret Service." Secret Service director Mark Sullivan said the agency was "deeply concerned and embarrassed by the circumstances surrounding the State Dinner."
He also said, "The preliminary findings of our internal investigation have determined established protocols were not followed at an initial checkpoint, verifying that two individuals were on the guest list. Although these individuals went through magnetometers and other levels of screening, they should have been prohibited from entering the event entirely. That failing is ours." The Secret Service is considering whether to press criminal charges against the couple, who is aspiring to be part of Bravo's upcoming "The Real Housewives of D.C." The Salahis' lawyer has insisted his clients were "cleared" to be at the State Dinner.
The NY Times notes that the White House "took pains to publicly refrain from criticizing the Secret Service," with the statement, "The men and women of the Secret Service put their lives on the line every day to protect us; they are heroes, and they have the full confidence of the president of United States. The White House asked the United States Secret Service to do a full review, and they are doing that. The United States Secret Service said they made a mistake, and they are taking action to identify exactly what happened, and they will take the appropriate measures pending the results of their investigation."
The WaPo also looks at how the Salahis' life hasn't been filled with just "glitz and glamour"—"These documents and statements include dozens of civil suits alleging non-payment for services, a long-running (and very public) feud with Tareq Salahi's parents about ownership and control of their now-idle 108-acre winery and claims the couple made about accomplishments that can't be verified." A friend said the couple had been taking it hard because they though they "really were invited guests."
Tagged
Michaele Salahi
party crasher
president obama
State dinner
Tareq Salahi
White House
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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