Click here for Mobile Site: http://m.wcbstv.com
  • Font Size    
Advertising

Featured Slideshows

World's Most Useless Facts
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Friend: E-mails Could Get Salahis Off The Hook

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +    Comments
Dec 1, 2009 6:06 am US/Eastern

Friend: E-mails Could Get Salahis Off The Hook

House Homeland Security Committee Hearing Set For Thursday

Reporting
Marcia Kramer
WASHINGTON (CBS) ― There's a new twist Monday night in the White House security breach caused by party-crashing couple Michaele and Tareq Salahi. Their e-mails show they went to a highly-placed defense department official for help getting on the guest list.

The developments could get them off the hook just as some in Congress demand they be slapped with criminal charges.

New reports surfaced late Monday that leading up to the event, a senior official at the Pentagon exchanged emails about the event with the couple. Friends of the reality show wannabes say it could bolster the Salihis' claim that they thought they were invited.

"It is my understanding that they have emails and correspondence that say that they were supposed to be there," said Salahi family friend Casey Margenau.

The Pentagon official is Michele Jones, special assistant to the Defense Secretary. She denied she ever said the couple could get in.

In a statement Jones said" "I specifically stated that they did not have tickets and in fact that I did not have the authority to authorize attendance. Even though I informed them of this, they still decided to come."

Congressman Peter King (R-N.Y.) and other lawmakers want criminal charges for the couple, including trespass and lying to the feds.

"I hope their next reality show is in a jail cell," King said.

But first, King wants to know exactly how the Salahis got past the Secret Service and even shook hands with the President.

The Salahis are invited to Thursday's hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee. But will they show?

"Their lawyers will probably tell them not to appeal and I think we'll have to consider issuing subpoenas if they don't show up," King said.

The Salahi's talked to the Secret Service, but are not yet saying anything publicly. A TV interview scheduled for Monday night was canceled.

While the Secret Service is catching a lot of heat, some say the White House personnel are also at fault.

"Someone from the social office should have been at the door because they recognize people on the guest list," said Washington Post reporter Amy Argetsinger.

The Salahis are accused of trying to cash in on the scandal, holding out for a big paycheck before talking – something a spokeswoman denied.


Twitter 

no image 

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Add Comment

here. here. Need a log in? Register here
  •  * Will not be displayed with comment
  •  * e.g. (http://www.mywebsite.com)
  •  
  • Click here to refresh with new letters

Show Comments (0)

Close Window Login


Close Window Flag Comment


loading...
You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

Top Stories

Top News Stories

© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.