Gatecrashers decline invitation to testify

[stevedeshazer]

Source: Washington Post

WASHINGTON -- White House party crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi declined an invitation to testify to Congress about their caper at President Barack Obama's state dinner last week, prompting a quick threat from a lawmaker that they will be forced by subpoena to face questions if they don't show up Thursday.

House lawmakers want answers in a hearing Thursday about how the couple managed to sail through security checkpoints while their names were not on a list of approved guests for the dinner. But their publicist, Mahogany Jones, said in a statement on the eve of the hearing that the couple had already provided information to two lawmakers as well as the Secret Service and would not come.

The Salahis believe "there is nothing further that they can do to assist Congress in its inquiry regarding White House protocol and certain security procedures," the statement said. "They therefore respectfully decline to testify."

That didn't sit well with Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, which is holding the hearing.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/02/AR2009120200238.html?hpid=topnews

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more at link

[bridgit]

1. They *declined* an invitation to testify? Hm, maybe little too much reality TV after all

Maybe they were embedded republican dirty tricksters who can say for sure if they decline to do so :shrug:

[naaman fletcher]

2. I can't believe people are making such a big deal about this.

[baldguy]

7. Considering that the WH has received 400 times more death threats since Jan 20, 2009

I don't think out of line to ask the Secret Service could put just a little more effort into vetting the people Obama comes in contact with in the White House.

[naaman fletcher]

14. Ok.. I agree on that for sure..

It's a huge deal, but I don't get why everyone is so mad at these people. In other threads everyone is demanding that they go to jail.

[shraby]

12. Ever hear about ricin? There is a reason white house

functions are invitation only. Foreign and domestic dignitaries are present, most of whom require special security. This lapse in security is not acceptable under any circumstances.

[baldguy]

3. Have they retained Karl Rove's attorney?

[Snazzy]

17. nah they got Mahogany Jones (nt)

[rrneck]

4. Oh really? Well, perhaps

congress should send some REAL gate crashers around to respectfully assist them in their cooperation.

Gate crashing media whore assholes.

[John N Morgan]

5. Conversation with 60's (cold war) intel vet ... what if it was a message?

Wut? Tin-foil?

How do you know when and where to show up? How do you even know how to address security? You simply cannot show up and say "I'm with Billy Bob."

Convict them for trespass and jail them for the max time.

Every person on the security detail that had any contact with them gets fired and clearances removed. No shit, suddenly this ain't funny no more.

[Wizard777]

6. Oh goody! They should also decline to take an oath and lie through their teeth to Congress.

The Nostalgia should do them some good. If not Congress will think they're having a flashback from the PTSD.

:rofl:

[kwassa]

8. They're busy, they have another party to crash.

[harkadog]

9. White House accepts part of the blame for gate-crashers

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE5B164E20091202?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&rpc=22&sp=true. For those who want to fire the SS should we fire WH staff also?

[LiberalFighter]

15. It was SS's responsibility. They had the list.

State Dinners require an invitation which they didn't have in their possession. If there was a question and SS didn't want to take responsibility for turning someone away they only needed to call the Social Event person in charge.

If SS is not going to follow their own procedures which include doing background checks on all guests which they were not then why bother doing the other checks?

[JDPriestly]

21. The SS has the ultimate responsibility for coordinating physical access to the president

The social secretary provides a list. The Secret Service is armed and has the means to protect themselves from potential attacks or unwanted intruders.

The social secretary's presence near the Secret Service at the entry to the White House events would only provide an unarmed potential hostage who could easily be a serious problem should there be an attack.

No. The security of the president and the White House is the responsibility of the Secret Service. No matter the custom in the past, in this day of guns brought by crazies to the areas in which the president is scheduled to speak, the social secretary should not be at the door for an event of this sort.

If I had been at the door and the names of these people had not been on my list, I would not have admitted them. I would have called the social secretary's office. And if no one had answered, this couple would have been turned away. I should expect any normal person to do what I would do. And I would certainly expect the Secret Service to turn them away.

After all, in Bush's day the Secret Service ushered people with offensive tee-shirts from events. It really isn't that difficult.

[maglatinavi]

27. crashers ...

declined to appear before Congres? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Now I have seen it all... Who the hell are these people??? The fact that these people were seeking publicity or promotion; what ever,:wtf: :wtf: :wtf: is almost ridiculous and seemingly comical. HOWEVER, THE IMPORTANT MATTER , AND IT IS SERIOUS; THEY HAD PERSONAL CONTACT WITH THE PRESIDENT, VICEPRESIDENT AND OTHER LEADERS. AN ASSASSIN COULD LIKEWISE GET TO THE PRESIDENT. THE THOUGHT SENDS CHILLS DOWN MY SPINE. ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW THERE ARE SOME FANATICS/RIGHT WINGERS THAT WOULD DO ANYTHING TO DESTROY THE PRESIDENT AND OUR BALANCE. REALLY SCARY!!!
Lets remember the soviet official that was poisoned and no one knows exactly how...
:scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

[nonationbuilding]

10. Just indict them for trespassing and lying, and sic the IRS on them for their charity scams

[Hekate]

11. Perhaps a subpoena would get their attention. nt

[winyanstaz]

13. umm sure...party crashers will be tried and go to jail...

war mongering lying bastards that got over a million people killed...will walk free.
A great example of justice in America alright.

[winyanstaz]

31. With all the moaning about party crashers....

Main stream media doesn't have to talk about the global warming scandal or the reasons we are expanding in Afghanistan.

[paulsby]

16. they cannot be compelled to testify

unless they are offered immunity. it's that darn pesky 5th amendment thang.

[MiniMe]

19. True, but they can be compelled to appear.

[paulsby]

20. correct.

they get a subpoena duces tecum, they gotta show up. and then they say "i plead the 5th". but you are right. congress can compel their appearance. once they plead the 5th, congress can't even do anything directly with them, gotta go through their attorneys.

[MiniMe]

18. Hey, it interferes with their 6 figure asking price

If they testify before the house, the networks can get it for free. :sarcasm:

[JDPriestly]

22. Exactly! If this couple agrees to speak to TV cameras but refuses

to testify to Congress, they would have trouble claiming Fifth Amendment rights. They should be ashamed of what they did. Any network or other media that interviews them about their publicity stunt should also be ashamed.

Enough of these ridiculous stunts in order to get on reality TV shows. Someone will get hurt due to those things one of these days.

The reality shows remind me of the Roman Circus somehow.

[marshall]

23. Can't they just ask the people who were supposed to be watching the doors?

There seem to have been more than one checkpoint this couple went through. Surely whoever it was that staffed those points can be asked "Why did you let these people in?"

[PSPS]

24. This is all just the latest political theater

The giveaway is this:

But their publicist, Mahogany Jones, said in a statement on the eve of the hearing that the couple had already provided information to two lawmakers as well as the Secret Service and would not come.

You don't take anything or anyone seriously when a "publicist" is involved. The more that is made of this, the better the "publicist" is doing to further enrich the clients.

[defendandprotect]

25. This couple were indicating that "there is more to the story" which suggests to me . . .

the possibility that they might have been aided in getting in?

In that sense, the story should be pursued.

Either way, whether it was an assist from those who want to cause trouble

for the Obama administration - or some problem we really do have with protecting

Obama -- we should know!

[SeattleGirl]

26. Wow, they "declined the invitation"?

Shoot, wonder if I could get away with that?

Oh wait.

Never mind.

I'm not a society girl.

My bad.

[tanyev]

28. Tell them there's a big party with lots of important people and TV cameras.

They'll be there.

[24601]

29. You want them to talk? Offer immunity and they'll be the star of

C-Span's coverage. They might even dress fancy-like.

The Constitution is not a technicality. They deserve the same rights as everyone else - especially since certain mobs are calling for their scalps.

[pinniped]

30. These reality show wannabe dumbasses need an invitation to Guantanamo Bay.

.