White House gate crashers invoke Fifth Amendment
From Associated Press:
And, of course, the White House has asserted Executive Privilege in refusing to supply any information in this case.WASHINGTON – White House gate crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination Wednesday, refusing to answer a House committee's questions about their uninvited appearance at a state dinner.
The jet-setting Virginia couple repeatedly said they were remaining silent on advice of counsel, but that didn't prevent members of the Homeland Security Committee from peppering them with questions about how they got through Secret Service checkpoints on Nov. 24.
Tareq Salahi read an opening statement in which he offered to have the couple's lawyers provide information about their appearance at the dinner for the prime minister of India. Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., rejected the offer.
A federal grand jury is investigating the Salahis to learn how they got past the Secret Service without invitations and shook hands with President Barack Obama.
The Salahis' attorney, Stephen Best, said in an interview prior to the hearing that the couple believed they were invited to an arrival ceremony for the prime minister and the White House receiving line for the dinner.
The couple — she dressed in a white jacket and skirt, he in a dark suit — said they would be willing to return and testify after the criminal investigation is finished.
Best, the Salahis' lawyer, said in the interview Tuesday that a grand jury is still hearing witnesses.
The couple could be charged under statutes that prohibit making false statements to federal agencies or using false pretenses to enter federal property.
Best said his clients "maintain their absolute innocence and have not committed any criminal wrongdoing whatsoever. They will contest any charges."
- Lois Lerner Changes Mind, Will Testify Before Congress About Irs Tea Party Scandal - Updated
Very odd. Issa says he doesn't know why she changed her mind. Does that mean she has not been granted immunity? What's going on? From Fox: Former Internal Revenue Service official Lois Lerner, a central figure in the IRS scandal, will appear...
- Issa: Lerner Waived Her Rights By Giving An Opening Statement, So We’re Bringing Her Back Before The Committee
From Hot Air: House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa said embattled IRS official Lois Lerner waived her Fifth Amendment rights and will be hauled back to appear before his panel again… “The precedents are clear...
-
White House Party Crashers Linked to Obama’s Radical Pal Rashid Khalidi From Gateway Pundit: From the Polo Contacts Website– “America’s Cup Polo Pre-Event with President-Elect Barack Obama” From Left to Right is: Randy Jackson, better...
- Could White House Party Crashing Couple Have Been Ushered In By Fellow Muslims? Could This Have Been A Dry Run On A Future Attack?
The White House Party Crashing Couple Mr. and Mrs. Tareq Salahi have ties to a pro-Arafat Palestinian group named the American Task Force on Palestine. Larwy, of Larwyn's Links, muses about how "diversity" training to a "diverse" Secret Service staff...
- White House Party Crasher Had Ties To Palestinian Pro-arafat Party
Was this a "Dry Run"? From American Power: Tareq Salahi, Gate-Crasher at White House State Dinner, Tied to ATFP, America-Bashing Palestinian Group Calling for Power-Sharing With Hamas! A New York Times report out this afternoon confirms my warnings...