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Secret Service considers criminal charges for crashers

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | November 27, 2009 at 09:43 am

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In Washington, DC today, Secret Service officials are considering bringing criminal charges against the Virginia couple who crashed President Obama's first White House State Dinner on Tuesday night.

A spokesman, Jim Mackin, says the agency is moving closer to beginning a criminal probe and official investigation ; adding that this is a reason for the Secret Service's continued silence on the matter.

Link to the Associated Press VIDEO

Mackin says there's less the Secret Service can say as the probe moves closer to a criminal investigation. He says the agency isn't leaving any options off the table at this point.

In photos posted on Facebook, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, of Virginia, rub shoulders and beam smiles with partygoers and the powerful, including Vice President Biden. The Salahis also are shown posing with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, CBS anchor Katie Couric, and three Marines in dress blue uniforms.

The story of the unwanted dinner guests was first reported byThe Washington Post. The Salahis were not on the list of those invited to the dinner Tuesday in honor of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife,Gursharan Kaur, Donovan said.

About 320 people attended the party and dinner, which was served in a heated tent on the South Lawn of the White House.

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

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Amy Judd

at 09:54 on November 27th, 2009

Thanks for staying on top of this story.

YankeeJim

at 09:57 on November 27th, 2009

I attended a conference on Homeland Security last week at which the Secret Service had a presenter because SS is part of DHS. He had little meaningful to say because he said, "Everything is secret around here."

Who is coming to dinner. That's a secret so close, they didn't even know.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 10:01 on November 27th, 2009

I wonder what they would prosecute them under. What law would they have broken? People crash parties all the time and these two had no ill intentions.

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 10:11 on November 27th, 2009

Thanks, Amy, and yes, YJ, too many secrets undoes the transparency. Pocci, I think it is because they knew they were not on the guest list, & were entering official territory, I suppose..............

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 13:29 on November 27th, 2009

I guess they missed the no trespassing signs and wanted to check out the party and get some pictures with the rich and famous. Who can blame them:)

a211423

at 14:53 on November 27th, 2009

I wonder if any money was exchanged among friends betting they could or couldn't get in the state dinner. : )

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 15:50 on November 27th, 2009

There are now pictures with the President on the Receiving line, pictures with the Vice President and Rahm Emanuel. This is getting to be pretty scary that someone could come this close to these powerful people without authorization.

This is the consequence of seeking celebrity status in our North American society. Just imagine all the interview these people will get. They already have one on Larry King.

Cowpoke shakes his head.

Link to Photo in Receiving Line here

a211423

at 16:06 on November 27th, 2009

Whoever was checking the creditials at the front door does not have a job any more. : (

It is really scarry that someone could get this close to President.

Albert Milliron

at 15:09 on December 3rd, 2009

The Culprit was Obama's own staff. The from the White House social office has provided support for every President I can think of. Obama's Social Secretary sent NO one to help the several levels of intervention in place to keep folks these out. While the Chief of Secret Service took the hit, the real culprit behind this action was Obama';s own social secretarial staff.

If you have ever been to the White House, there are several layers of security. I noticed the social secretary was not reprimanded in this incident. Next headline I will see is that, George Bush is at fought.

So far since Obama has been in office, we have had 1 terrorist attack and one breach of security that could have been detrimental to the safety of our President.

The White House announced Wednesday, Dec. 1, that Social Secretary Desirée Rogers would not be testifying to Congress Thursday about the two reality-television aspirants who got by the Secret Service at a recent state dinner to shake hands with President Obama. "I think you know that based on separation of powers, staff here don't go to testify in front of Congress," said press secretary Robert Gibbs in his daily briefing.

How is that transparancy working for ya?