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Hearing Set For Uninvited Couple At State Dinner

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Nov 30, 2009 9:15 am US/Mountain

Hearing Set For Uninvited Couple At State Dinner

Washington Couple Michaele And Tareq Salahi Crashed Obama's First State Dinner

Charges Being Considered; Couple Reportedly Looking For 6-Figure Deal For Story

WASHINGTON (CBS) ― The top Democrat on the House Homeland Security committee is calling the Secret Service director and the couple who crashed the Obama administration's first state dinner to testify on the incident Thursday.

Mississippi's Bennie Thompson says he wants answers about the Secret Service's security deficiencies that allowed Michaele and Tareq Salahi into the Nov. 24 White House dinner even though they were not on the guest list. Thompson says now is a time for answers and not political games or scapegoating.

Some lawmakers have called for criminal charges to be brought against the couple, but the Secret Service has yet to do so. The Secret Service could not immediately be reached for comment.

Word leaked of the couples' attendance at the president's first state dinner when Michaele Salahi posted photos of the affair on her Facebook page.

Mrs. Salahi wrote: I was honored to be invited to attend the First State Dinner hosted by President Obama & the First Lady to honor India. In June 2010, the America's Polo Cup will be between INDIA & the UNITED STATES. Please join me in this cultural celebration of politics, diplomacy, fashion, sports, entertainment & family fun.

Discussion on the couple's Facebook page ranged from applause to condemnation. In one topic post titled "disgusting," commenter "Caron" suggests the couple should be arrested. Another commenter named "David," in a topic discussion titled "Arrested!" suggests the Obama administration is more at fault.

A publicist for the pair insist her clients are not trying to sell their stories for a high price, contrary to media reports.

In an e-mailed statement Monday, publicist Mahogany Jones said the allegations are false and demanded that "this adverse, inaccurate information cease immediately."

Jones said Michaele and Tareq Salahi are not making any formal comments or arrangements to speak with the media. An appearance previously scheduled for Monday night on CNN's "Larry King Live" has been canceled.

A TV executive who spoke on condition of anonymity to publicly discuss bookings had told The Associated Press that the couple's representatives had urged networks to "get their bids in" for an interview.

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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