Secret Service Probes White House Party-Crashing Incident

2 years ago

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Morning Editor

The Secret Service is investigating how a Virginia couple managed to attend President Obama's first White House state dinner Tuesday even though they weren't on the list of 320 invitees.

Michaele and Tareq Salahi got through security checkpoints and spent the evening rubbing shoulders with Vice President Joe Biden, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and others, posting photos and messages about the event on their Facebook page.

The well-known socialites were followed to the White House gate by a Bravo network film crew; Michaele Salahi was being taped for "The Real Housewives of Washington," a new installment of the reality-TV series now in production. The film crew was not permitted onto the grounds.

The Secret Service said Thursday that its procedures to ensure security at the White House were not followed at the dinner. Spokesman Edwin Donovan told The Washington Post that the procedures are adequate to ensure the safety of the president, but would be reviewed and adjustments will be made, if necessary.

In another twist to the story, CNN reports that the socialite couple have been named in numerous civil lawsuits involving Tareq Salahi's family winery in Fauquier County, Va., which is now in bankruptcy.

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