Two reported stars of Bravo's new The Real Housewives of D.C. reality series have raised some safety concerns by crashing a White House state dinner.
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The Secret Service is currently looking into security procedures after Fauquier County winery owner Tareq Salahi and his wife Michaele were able to attend Tuesday night's White House state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh despite the fact they weren't on the guest list, agency spokesman Ed Donovan told The Associated Press.
However Virginia attorney Paul Morrison -- who has previously represented the couple -- said he "can't imagine" why they would be in legal trouble over the incident.
"I know them. I'm unaware of any reason they need representation right now," he told The AP. "They just went to a party. They didn't do anything wrong. I know they enjoy a good party. They're just good people."
Donovan said President Barack Obama -- as well as Vice President Joe Biden, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty, and the other 300 people at the event -- were never in danger because the Salahis went through the same security screening as everyone else.
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"It's important to note that they went through all the security screenings -- the magnetometer screening -- just like all the other guests did," he told The AP.
Bravo began developing The Real Housewives of D.C. in May and formally ordered the fifth edition of its The Real Housewives franchise last month, announcing it will follow five women "who have their pulse on the most important cultural events, political galas, gallery openings and fundraisers in Washington society."
Michaele, T.H.E. Artist Agency owner Lynda Erkiletian and Mary Amons, wife of venture capitalist Rich Amons, were all subsequently reported to be cast members by The Washington Post, which was the first media outlet to report on the Salahi's White House crashing, according to The AP.
The Secret Service then learned of the security breach when it began to receive media inquiries about their attendance at the private event after photos appeared on Michaele's Facebook account, The AP reported.
Donovan declined comment on whether the couple had been contacted by the Secret Service, according to The AP, which added The Post reported uninvited guests could face a potential trespassing charge unless they were let inside by a White House staff member.
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The Secret Service's Office of Professional Responsibility is currently reviewing the incident, The AP reported, after an initial finding indicated a checkpoint did not follow proper procedures to ensure Tareq and Michaele -- a former Washington Redskins cheerleader, according to photos on her Facebook account -- were on the guest list.
(Photo credit Michaele Salahi / Facebook)
About The Author: Steven Rogers