Have Fancy Dress & Thirst For Spotlight, Will Crash State Dinner

From Michelle Salahi's Facebook—the couple's photo with VP Joe Biden

While the Obamas' first State Dinner was hailed as a glamorous evening, one thing is looking bad: The security, because a couple from the now-filming "Real Housewives of D.C." managed, somehow, to crash the dinner and mingle with the VIPs. While the Secret Service emphasized that no one was in danger because of the "magnetometers and several other levels of screenings," a spokesman did admit there was "a Secret Service checkpoint which did not follow proper procedure to ensure these two individuals were on the invited guest list."

Gawker describes the couple as "Michaele and Tareq Salahi—aspiring reality show stars, bedeviled vintners, polo enthusiasts and lawsuit magnets" and adds, "You inspire and sadden us in almost equal measure." The Washington Post says:

The Salahis, both in their 40s, showed up about halfway through the guest arrivals. A Marine announced their names, and the couple -- he in a tux, she in a striking red and gold lehenga (traditional Indian formalwear) -- swept pass reporters and photographers, stopping several times to pose for pictures. They then walked into the White House lower hallway, where they mingled with guests on the red carpet before heading up to the cocktail reception in the East Room.

Later, they posted pictures that seem to chart their course through the night: Michaele posing with Marines outside near the White House doors, and with Katie Couric and Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) inside the mansion. In the East Room, the Salahis both cozied up to D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and his wife, Michelle.

It's unclear if the Salahis met the Obamas or their guests of honor, the Prime Minister of India and his wife, but Politico reports that "former Bush homeland security adviser Fran Townsend said that the couple could be guilty of a felony if they told the Secret Service or White House that they were invited knowing full well they weren’t."

Townsend said, “This is not sort of a minor infraction, if you're these two people who got in improperly. It's a potential felony.They would have had to make a false statement to the Secret Service agent and the social secretary's person, both federal officials, that there was a mistake, that they were supposed to be on the list. That's a lie and that's a federal felony, for which they can serve jail time. It's not just a misdemeanor for trespassing. It's a potential felony.”

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By Jen Chung in News on November 26, 2009 2:00 PM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

Sadly, they weren't on the guest list for the Mumbai Massacre either.

ottoemezzo

Arrest 'em! Felony Narcissism! Then put all the wannabe reality morons in the same jail. (Sloppy Secret Service work tho'.)

Fritzdecat

"Arrest 'em! Felony Narcissism!"

Good Call

Book em Dano

Mr Mel

The SS agents involved will soon be frisking Inuets.

Dead Himmler

When money and fame is the new American religion you will see the flock do some irrational actions. As with any other religion.

Steven

The new career path called "I want to be a reality show star". how sad and pathetic.

kc2slg

I would love to see them in the DC jail for a weekend. THAT would be a reality show! Starting with the body cavity search, in the company of, erm, a demographic they probably don't spend a lot of time with.

Spirit of 76

Coming next season: Real Jailbirds of D.C., followed by Survivor: Gitmo.

airtech1

These folks are geniuses plain and simple, exposing bureaucratic "security measures" for what they are..

jaycjay

Note to self: after committing a felony, do not post photographic evidence of your guilt publicly online.

bitchincamaro

These folks were not on the list, yet Boobie Jindal was! No justice, no peace!

pinball29

Felony, schmellony. Theyre now famous and will be on TV. Thats all that matters to pathetic douchebags like this (cue balloon-dad exit.....)

Im sure they are already invited onto every talk show imaginable, and they will be shopping a book by Monday.