Salahi denies being White House party-crasher

[December 01, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The man who got into a White House dinner without an invitation denied Tuesday that he and his wife were gate-crashers.

Appearing on a nationally broadcast morning news show with his wife, Michaele, Tareq Salahi said the furor surrounding their attendance at the state dinner for the visiting Indian prime minister has been a "most devastating" experience.

Salahi said in the interview Tuesday on NBC's "Today" show that there was more to the story -- an explanation that would exonerate the couple from allegations of misconduct in the breach of White House security. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, appearing on the same program, stood by the administration's position that the Salahis were gate-crashers.

"This wasn't a misunderstanding," Gibbs said. "You don't show up at the White House as a misunderstanding."

For his part, Salahi said he and his wife were cooperating with the Secret Service in its investigation of the incident a week ago. And he said they both have "great respect" for President Barack Obama.

"We're greatly saddened by all the circumstances ... portraying my wife and I as party-crashers. I can tell you we did not party-crash the White House."

The White House gate caper captivated a capital frequently as as well known for its elegant social life and celebrity eruptions as the day-to-day business of government and state.

Earlier Tuesday, Gibbs said that Obama and his wife, Michelle, were both angered by the incursion.

Interviewed on MSNBC, Gibbs said "it's safe to say he was angry. Michelle was angry."

Gibbs noted that the Secret Service is investigating what went wrong and said the White House was also re-examining its procedures. He told the network, "I think the president really had the same reaction the Secret Service had, and that was great concern for how something like this happened."

[Associated Press; By EILEEN SULLIVAN]

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