Committee Subpoenaes White House Crashers
By Michael McAuliffDaily News
December 9, 2009
The House Homeland Security voted today to subpoena the alleged White House gate-crashers, Michaele and Tareq Salahi, but not the President’s social secretary, Desiree Rogers.
The committee rendered near-unanimous votes in demanding the wannabe-socialites haul themselves to Capitol Hill and explain how they got into the White House state dinner a couple weeks ago, waltzing through Secret Service checkpoints.
The pair insists they thought they were invited, though the White House says they were not. The Salahis also have insisted they broke no laws, and that America would be “surprised” to hear their side.
However, their attorney has indicated the pair will plead the Fifth Amendment, invoking their right not to incriminate themselves.
The committee also shot down the request of Long Island Republican Rep. Pete King, who wanted to hear from Rogers, turning down his appeal to subpoena her as well by a vote of 17 to 12.
A number of Democrats who said in recent days they also wanted to hear from Rogers were not in attendance for the vote, though Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Chris Carney voted with King.
“I want to work with the White House — they refuse — and they are unnecessarily poisoning the water,” King, ranking GOP member, fumed.