White House Dinner Crashers

Michaele and Tareq Salahi came all dressed up for a party at the White House-a party they never actually were invited to. It was President Obama’s first state dinner, held on November 24th, for the Prime Minister of India. The couple shook hands and talked to the President, even though their names were not on the list of invited guests. It is unclear as to what the couple told officers at the checkpoint that allowed them to go through the security screening.

Both are now facing possible charges for lying to federal officers and could be charged with trespass or some other violation. Federal law makes it a crime to knowingly and willfully falsify statements on matters within the federal government’s jurisdiction. Section 1001 of Title 18 of the United States Code specifies that:

Whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully –

• falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;
• makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
• makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry shall be fined, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism, imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.

Motives behind crashing the party are unclear, but some surmise it could be for publicity as Michaele Salahi is being considered as a participant in the upcoming “The Real Housewives of D.C.” program.