Thursday
Dec032009
Secret Service Director Claims Salahi Security Breach Posed No Threat To President
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 12:39PM
While Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan conceded Thursday that the admittance of socialite couple the Salahis to the White House State Dinner last Tuesday was a security breach, he rebuked the notion that President Barack Obama was put in danger by the error.
“There was no threat to the president,” said Sullivan in his testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee. “With all due respect to those 400 people that came to the White House last week, we continue to look at those people even though they’ve gone through name-checks.”
“When people walk up to a photo shoot, we’re looking at those people as they approach,” Sullivan added.
Michaele and Tareq Salahi’s entrance to the invite-only party was detected after the couple posted pictures of themselves posing with administration officials, including Vice President Joe Biden and Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, on their Facebook account.
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) asked if the Secret Service increased security around the state dinner in response to the perceived danger Obama faces as the first black president. The director stated that he could not respond, but denied that Obama has received 400% more death threats than the previous president, a percentage that has been reported by a number of media outlets, including CNN.
The Salahi’s did not attend Thursday’s hearing despite being invited. Committee chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) has stated that a subpoena may be issued to secure their testimony.
“There was no threat to the president,” said Sullivan in his testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee. “With all due respect to those 400 people that came to the White House last week, we continue to look at those people even though they’ve gone through name-checks.”
“When people walk up to a photo shoot, we’re looking at those people as they approach,” Sullivan added.
Michaele and Tareq Salahi’s entrance to the invite-only party was detected after the couple posted pictures of themselves posing with administration officials, including Vice President Joe Biden and Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, on their Facebook account.
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) asked if the Secret Service increased security around the state dinner in response to the perceived danger Obama faces as the first black president. The director stated that he could not respond, but denied that Obama has received 400% more death threats than the previous president, a percentage that has been reported by a number of media outlets, including CNN.
The Salahi’s did not attend Thursday’s hearing despite being invited. Committee chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) has stated that a subpoena may be issued to secure their testimony.
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