US Congressional committee threaten Salahis with subpoenas

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Dec 3 (PTI) A powerful Congressional
committee Thursday warned Tareq and Michaele Salahi, the
couple who gatecrashed into the White House state dinner
hosted in honour of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, that
they will be forced by subpoenas to appear before it for
questioning.
The strong warning from Congressman Bennie G Thompson,
Chairman of House Committee on Homeland Security, came after
attorney representing the Salahis informed that the Virginia
couple may not appear before the Committee Friday.
Thompson, in his capacity as the Chairman of the House
Committee on Homeland Security which oversees the working of
the Secret Service, has convened a hearing Friday to discuss
the circumstances of the Salahis gate crashing into the state
dinner hosted by President Barack Obama in honour of Singh on
November 24.
"I was informed by the Salahis' counsel, that their
clients, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, may not appear before the
Committee tomorrow as requested... If the Salahis are absent
from hearing, the Committee is prepared to move forward with
subpoenas to compel their appearance," Thompson said.
He said the Salahis' testimony was important to know
how a couple circumvented layers of security at the White
House on the evening of a state dinner without causing alarm.
"The Committee on Homeland Security must understand
the full scope of what went so terribly wrong on Tuesday night
to ensure that security gaps are sealed. This can only be
achieved by hearing both sides of the matter," he argued. MORE
PTI