Salahis May Get Congressional Subpoenas, Top Democrat Warns

The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), announced Wednesday night that if Michaele and Tareq Salahi fail to show up at his hearing examining last week's White House security breach, he will subpoena them to compel their testimony.

Thompson said the Salahis' lawyers informed him Wednesday that the couple will not testify at Thursday's House hearing into the events leading up to the security breakdown during last week's state dinner for the Prime Minister of India.

In response, Thompson released the following statement Wednesday night.

"Late this evening, I was informed by the Salahis' counsel that their clients, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, may not appear before the Committee tomorrow as requested. The Salahis' testimony is important to explain how a couple circumvented layers of security at the White House on the evening of a State Dinner without causing alarm.

"The Committee on Homeland Security must understand the full scope of what went so terribly wrong on Tuesday night to ensure that security gaps are sealed. This can only be achieved by hearing both sides of the matter.

"If the Salahis are absent from tomorrow's hearing, the Committee is prepared to move forward with subpoenas to compel their appearance."

Ignoring a congressional subpoena can result in charges of contempt of Congress, which is punishable by jail.

The committee had also requested that the White House Social Secretary, Desiree Rogers, testify, but as Lynn Sweet reported earlier, the Obama administration won't allow her to appear at the hearing.

Citing "separation of powers," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said at Wednesday's press briefing, "Staff here don't go to testify in front of Congress. She won't -- she will not be testifying in front of Congress tomorrow." After repeated questions from reporters about Rogers' competence, Gibbs said that the Obamas have full confidence in Rogers, who is a friend of the family from Chicago.

"The President, the First Lady, and the entire White House staff are grateful for the job that she does and think she has done a terrific and wonderful job pulling off a lot of big and important events here at the White House," Gibbs said.

Rep. Peter King, the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, had his own questions about Rogers' performance last week, when the social office that she supervises did not post a staff member at each White House entrance to work with the Secret Service to screen guests, as has been customary in the past.

"Obviously the Salahis' testimony would be significant, and the Committee should do whatever is necessary to obtain it," King said in a statement. "It is far more important, though, to obtain the testimony of White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers. The White House should not be allowed to stonewall by refusing the Committee's request that Ms. Rogers testify. What is the White House trying to hide?"

The House Homeland Security Committee hearing will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday.