Third Person Crashed White House State Dinner, U.s. Bureau Says
An investigation into a previously disclosed security breach by a Virginia couple at the Nov. 24 event “has revealed that a third individual, who was not on the White House guest list, entered the state dinner,” yesterdays statement said. There is no indication the individual had any contact with President Barack Obama, the agency said.
The Secret Service, which is in charge of the presidents security, didnt reveal the identity of the gate-crasher, who traveled with Indian officials from the hotel where they were staying. Foreign delegations are the responsibility of the State Department, according to the statement.
“This individual went through all required security measures along with the rest of the official delegation at the hotel, and boarded a bus/van with the delegation guests en route to the White House,” the statement said.
The Secret Service, part of the Homeland Security Department, has been reviewing security procedures after the Virginia couple, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, managed to get into the state dinner without being invited. The two were photographed greeting Obama in the receiving line.
The U.S. Houses Homeland Security Committee also is investigating that incident.
Continuing Investigation
Edwin M. Donovan, Secret Service spokesman, said in a telephone interview that he wouldnt “get into all the particulars” on the discovery of the third gate crasher “because of the nature of the investigation” and because the probe remains active.
He also wouldnt describe what steps the Secret Service has taken to tighten access to the White House, including events involving guests at the executive mansion.
Officials at the Embassy of India in Washington didnt immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.
The State Department took part in the review of security procedures and is making changes in the way it handles foreign delegations, spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters yesterday.
With the Group
Kelly declined to comment further, calling it a “very serious ongoing criminal investigation.”
In the wake of the disclosure that the Salahis attended the state dinner, Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan told the House homeland security panel at a Dec. 3 hearing that three officers stationed at a White House gate used ” poor judgment” and didnt follow “a simple procedure.” The officers were put on administrative leave, he said.
The White House also changed procedures for such events by posting staff members alongside Secret Service officers to check names against official lists.