White House gatecrashers

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- A Virginia couple's ability to crash the White House state dinner last week has sparked investigations about the apparent security breech.

Michaele and Tareq Salahi were able, despite not being on the invitation list, to get into the White House prior to last Tuesday's state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and mingled for some time before the real invitees sat down for dinner. Before that, however, the Salahis were able to meet U.S. President Barack Obama -- the White House released photographic evidence of that encounter -- and have pictures taken with other officials, including Vice President Joe Biden.

The Secret Service blamed itself for the Salahis winning access into the White House and apologized. A spokesman also said Obama was never in danger in the incident. The investigation into the exact circumstance continues.

Since then the Salahis, who were trying to win a place in a reality TV show, have decided their story is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars before granting media interviews.