Crashers: We Didn't Get Confirmed Invite

The attention-hungry couple that crashed the Obama administration's first state dinner have admitted to a federal official they went without a confirmed invitation - just in case they got approved at the last minute.

Tareq and Michaele Salahi claimed a dead cell phone battery prevented them from hearing a voicemail earlier that day advising them they did not make the guest list.

The Salahis gave that account in an e-mail sent hours after the dinner to a Pentagon official who had tried to get them invited. The e-mail was obtained by The Associated Press.

Read the Salahis' E-Mail Exchanges
Salahis' Polo Charity under Scrutiny
Bravo Takes Heat for Dinner Flap
Crashers Spur White House Security Change


Earlier Tuesday, Tareq Salahi denied that he and his wife were party crashers.

In his first nationally broadcast interview since the incident, Salahi told NBC's "Today" show that the whole experience has been "the most devastating thing that has ever happened" to he and his wife, Michaele.

Salahi said flatly that the couple "did not party-crash the White House." He said the pair is cooperating with the Secret Service and they have "great respect" for President Barack Obama. Salahi told interviewer Matt Lauer he's confident "the truth will come out." about the circumstances surrounding his and his wife's attendance at the state dinner for the visiting prime minister of India.

Despite reports that the couple was seeking payment to be interviewed, an NBC spokeswoman insisted, "No money changed hands."

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told CBS' "The Early Show", "This White House will do anything that needs to happen to ensure that both the president and his family are safe and secure."

On MSNBC, Gibbs was more forceful, saying both President Obama and his wife, Michelle, were angry that two uninvited people were able to get into a state dinner at the White House.

Gibbs said "it's safe to say he was angry. Michelle was angry." Gibbs noted the Secret Service is investigating and said the White House is 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."

NBC's parent company, NBC Universal, also owns the cable network Bravo. Michaele Salahi had hoped to land a part on an upcoming Bravo reality show, "The Real Housewives of D.C."

Michaele Salahi described the couple as "shocked and devastated" when they saw accounts of the incident the following morning.

Asked if they had been mischaracterized in the media, Tareq Salahi said, "No question ... It's been devastating what's happened to Michaele and I ... Our lives have really been destroyed."

"Everything we've worked for," Michaele Talahi told interviewer Matt Lauer.

"We were invited, not crashers, and there isn't anyone who would have the audacity or the poor behavior to do that," she said. "No one would do that, and certainly not us."

Tareq Salahi said that the couple has been "very candid" with the Secret Service and said "we have turned over documentation to them."

"We're going to definitely work with the Secret Service between Micahele and I to really shed light on this," Tareq Salahi said. He indicated the couple had e-mails that would reinforce their position that they did not go uninvited to the dinner.

The couple also said they had not discussed accepting money from any party or organization, including NBC, for telling their story.

"I am certain we will be completely exonerated," he said.

[Aine57]

Oh, and it's just such a relief to know that the Salahis have such "great respect" for Barack Obama. That's exactly how I feel when people break into my house, too!

[Aine57]

Oh, will the horror never END! I am shocked -- shocked and appalled that "the most devastating thing that has ever happened" to Mr. and Mrs. Salahi is their outing as Chief Executive soiree party crashers. That "[their] lives have really been destroyed" just twists the knife in the wound. Thank heavens MY life and the lives of CBSNews readers are not so irredeemably tragic; all we have to deal with is job security, home foreclosures, uninsured preexisting conditions, losing our children as cannon fodder abroad or to gangs in schools, and the odd global-warming, freak-of-nature flood that destroys our cities and slaughters our loved ones. God forbid the terrible tragedy of federally unauthorized social faux-pas should visit me or YOU! [Or, needless to say, the Secret Service.]

And to top it all, this poor Polo Charity couple, who can't even be bothered to follow IRS guidelines for the registration of their possibly corrupt organization, are unable to afford either a second cell phone or batteries for the one they are forced to share. Maybe someone out there has a teen who can forward them theirs.

My heart bleeds.

[rehoops1011]

Let this story die. Talking about this story is what these two want. Enough said.

[craigh9]

This is an issue of the Secret Service - period! It's time for the media to stop giving this couple the media attention they desired that created the entire event. It should be dealt with in much the same way as Major League Baseball handles situations when someone runs out onto the playing field. They let people know generally what has happened but DOES NOT show them on camera and DOES NOT provide their names or any information about them thereby not giving them the "15 minutes of fame" they seek. This is EXACTLY what should be done hear. These people are lowlifes only seeking their "15 minutes' - CUT THEM OFF!!! Discuss the security issues, discuss the concerns, but DO NOT EVER mention this couple again.

[longtree-2009]

anyone wanting to harm any sitting potus now has an idea of how good the secret service is in protecting the potus. they also have an outline of a plan that can be used at a future affair or future presentation, speech. perhaps the salahi's were used, knowingly or not, to test security for those wanting to harm the potus. the salahi's should be punished somehow, someway and not rewarded. the bravo production company should also be punished since they were involved. but doubt anything will happen to any of them. all of them will, and are, making money off their crashing stunt and at the same time making fools out of obama and his administration.

[owlgal]

Why does the press keep giving these "wannabes" coverage? They were NOT invited but were inviting themselves. If they were wanted there, they would have received an invitation and wouldn't have to be asking for one. And as pushy as they are, let's hope they are "blacklisted" from all the lists.

[violist47]

For Salahi to say "It's been devastating what's happened to Michaele and I ..." is bad enough. For CBS to follow suit and say 'the whole experience has been "the most devastating thing that has ever happened" to he and his wife, Michaele.' is very sad. "To" in these cases is a preposition followed by the objective, i.e. by "him" and "me", not by "he" and "I". It happened to him. It happened to me. It did not happen to he or I. Come on CBS. Back to English 101.

[ll2owt]

tnx for pointing out the improper use of the english language..disgusting.. these are the same people who would biotch about people speaking another language, when in fact, they are unable to speak their own language in a proper manner.

[sensiblysane]

I'll bet they are dumb enough not to realize that the Secret Service will access their phone records and find out that they did, in fact, check their email at the time they said the battery was out on their phone. People like that do not let their batteries run out - especially when they are plotting to break into the White House.

[all_father]

At least the Salahi's can be thankful that they can't be prosecuted for being stupid. They can't even lie well.

[PR_in_Alabama]

Tareq and Michaele Salahi claimed a dead cell phone battery prevented them from hearing a voicemail earlier that day advising them they did not make the guest list...


lolololol....this folks are funny...