Report: Grand jury apparently probes gate-crashers

[February 04, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal grand jury has convened to investigate whether fraudulent statements were made to government officials, apparently in the probe of how a Virginia couple got into a White House state dinner without an invitation.

The Washington Post says two hair stylists who spent several hours with Tareq and Michaele Salahi on the day they gate-crashed the Nov. 24 state dinner have received subpoenas to testify Tuesday.

The House Homeland Security Committee has also voted to subpoena the couple to force them to answer questions about the security breach. The Salahis have said they would invoke their Fifth Amendment rights not to answer questions if forced to appear before the panel.

They have said on national television that they did receive an invitation to the affair for the Indian prime minister and that they are cooperating with the Secret Service's criminal investigation.

[Associated Press]

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