By YUNJI DE NIES, Z. BYRON WOLF and DEVIN DWYER
Nov. 26, 2009 —
Michaele and Tareq Salahi weren't on the guest list for Tuesday's state dinner at the White House, but that didn't stop the Washington socialites from successfully penetrating one of the nation's most secure places.
Now the Secret Service is investigating how the Salahis managed to pull it off and whether they committed a crime. It's unclear what legal liability, if any, they may face. Were they trespassing? Did someone at the White House help them get in?
"It's clear they weren't on the list and weren't invited," said White House officials.
Initial findings of the Secret Service investigation have identified a checkpoint where procedures were not properly followed, according to the agency.
For their part, the Salahis certainly looked as though they belonged, arriving in a stretch-SUV and wearing glitzy formal evening wear.
The couple posed for pictures on the red carpet with Vice President Joe Biden, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel -- whom Michaele Salahi called "Ron" -- and even slid up to ABC News' Robin Roberts for a snapshot.
The couple -- aspiring reality-TV stars who may appear on the upcoming "Real Housewives of D.C." -- later posted the pictures on their Facebook pages.
"It is a real concern if they would have had a different intent," Brad Garrett, a former FBI agent, said. "Could they have possibly physically attacked somebody? Of course they could have. They would have been wrestled to the ground and taken away. But it is a real concern about people's ability to penetrate security and then be next to people that it would be a huge issue if something happened to them."
Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said the agency is looking "into a report that two individuals not on the guest list were in the event."
The two were not escorted off the premises Tuesday night, he said. But it's unclear whether they ever made it to a seat for dinner.
Obama Was Never in Danger
Donovan said even if the two were uninvited guests, President Obama and other dignitaries would not have been in danger.
"Everyone that goes into the White House grounds goes through magnetometers and other levels of screening," he said.
