U.S. Congressman Al Green (TX-09) underscored the importance of the House Homeland Security Committee’s oversight hearing into last week’s security breach at the White House State Dinner.  Congressman Green made the following remarks at the conclusion of yesterday’s hearing in which Mark Sullivan, Director of the United States Secret Service, was the sole witness to appear of four invited witnesses.     
         
          “I commend Director Sullivan for taking full responsibility for the lapse in security at the State Dinner, but it is of the utmost importance that the investigation that has already started continues because we need to know exactly what mistakes were made. How Tareq and Michaele Salahi managed to get inside the White House without being on the guest list has not been fully explained yet.  Before corrective measures can be taken to correct the vulnerabilities, many questions must be answered.”

          “I am pleased to have received assurances from the Mr. Sullivan that after a thorough investigation into the events of last week’s dinner, and if the evidence merits, the Salahis, along with any other persons responsible for breaching security protocols, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” 

          “I fully support Chairman Thompson’s decision to pursue further action against Mr. and Mrs. Salahis by using the Committee’s subpoena power to compel them to appear before the Committee.  To understand the full scope of the breakdown in security arrangements, it is important that we hear not only from Mr. Sullivan, but the Salahis as well.”