Bravo Takes Heat for State Dinner Flap

(CBS)  The hot water created by allegations that a Washington power couple crashed President Obama's first state dinner is now starting to burn a television network that is considering putting the couple on a reality show.

Speculation is simmering over whether last week's state dinner crash by Tareq and Michaele Salahi was supposed to be in the finale for the upcoming cable television show "The Real Housewives of D.C," reports CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano.

Bravo says Michaele hasn't been officially cast on the show and that there is still several months of filming before a final decision is made.

But yesterday, the Salahis were seen in Georgetown attending a photo shoot with other cast members.

Also yesterday, copies of e-mails between the Salahis and a Pentagon official undermine the couple's claims that they were invited to the state dinner.

Read the e-mails between the Salahis and the Pentagon

Just hours before the e-mails were released, the Salahis told NBC's "Today" show that they would be exonerated.

Details of the State Dinner
Salahis' Polo Charity under Scrutiny
Crashers: We Didn't Get Confirmed Invite
Party Crashers Spur White House Security Change
White House Crashers Break Silence

Camera crews for the latest "Housewives" series have been seen around the D.C. area since September. One photo shows Michaele with other cast members at the couple's oasis winery in Virginia.

Just how much did Bravo and the show's production company know about the Salahi's invitation to the White House state dinner?

Bravo had filmed the couple around town as they got ready for the event. It even asked its sister network, NBC, for access of the tape of the Salahis arriving at the dinner.

Bravo maintains that it believed the Salahis were on the guest list.

The cable network also said "the Salahis informed the production company that they were invited guests. Producers had no reason to believe otherwise."

"If, as Bravo says, they were simply filming the Salahis and believed in good faith that they had an invitation to the White House, then no, they're not going to have any criminal responsibility," CBS News legal analyst Lisa Bloom said.

LuAnn de Lesseps also known as the countess on "The Real Housewives of New York City," says the show isn't a "reality show" but a docu-drama.

"It's the reality of our lives and everything that goes on while we're at an event is the reality. But it is a produced, edited television show and it's a docu-drama," she said.

In the meantime, the Salahis and the head of the Secret Service have been asked to appear Thursday before the House Homeland Security Committee to explain the incident.

[gosstom]

It's time we give up the Right to be Stupid.

[RayField-Texas]

When you knock on a door and you answer it and you?re let in, this is considered an "invitation" so get over it. Any law enforcement agency will ask you to come in when they knock so same applies here, they came they knocked they were let in. Now, you?re complaining that the sorry social secretary did not do her job and watch the door, so fire her. She failed to protect the list and guests. Secret Service failed as well and I'm sure these guys are Wal-Mart security guards as we speak. There were brazen enough to knock and the white house is publicly owned so why would anyone get upset that the President own security is willing to let his life be squandered at the risk of his own social secretary. Again another President's secretary takes him down and we want to blame someone else. Responsibility is taking responsibility of your own actions. They were invited in by secret service had a drink, met a few people and left. No one was hurt. This is America. Maybe we should look at how our government is running our American. They brought the terrorist from Cuba to New York, they invited them in, what?s next, protect them under our laws? I think its time to realize what it is. Poor government equals poor protection.

[RayField-Texas]

when you knock on a door and you answer it and your let in, this is considered an "invitation" so get over it. Any law enforcement agency will ask you to come in when they knock so same applies here, they came they knocked they were let in. Now, your complaining that the sorry social secretary did not do her job and watch the door, so fire her. She failed to protect the list and guests. Secret Servuice failed as well and I'm sure these guys are Wal-Mart security guards as we speak. There were brazen enough to knock and the white house is publicly owned so why would anyone get upset that the President own security is willing to let his life be squandered at the risk of his own social secretary. Again another President's secretary takes him down and we want to blame someone else. Responsibility is taking responsibility of your own actions. They were invited in by secret service had a drink, met a few people and left. No one was hurt. This is America. Maybe we should look at how our government is running our American. They brought the terrorist from cuba to New York, they invited them in, whats next, protect them under our laws? I think its time to realize what it is. Poor governement equals poor protection.

[craigh9]

Major League Baseball has a policy that when someone runs out onto the field of play they do not show it on TV nor give any credence what so ever to the individual(s) involved. It was be wise for the general media to adopt this policy when dealing with events like this. By all means expose and discuss the breach of security and the impact it could have - but DO NOT GIVE "15 minutes of fame" to those that were involved since they are looking for just that. They act like jerks - and get the reward they desired - all because the media gives it to them.
IGNORE them and guess what - THEY GO AWAY!!!

[johnlewisusmc]

Why is the media dragging this subject out... We all know that they crashed the party with the intent to drum up publicity. Fact is they weren't invited.

Why are we not questioning the actions of the Secret Service? It was their job to control who and what entered the party... I want to know why there was a break in protocol on their part!

Bad judgment on the part of the Salahi's
Bad training on the part of the Secret Service.

[stillwaters6]

HOLD UP...IF YOU NEVER GOT THE MESSAGE, THEN WHY DID YOU BOTHER TO SHOW UP? duh...this couple is just hungry for tv time...unfortunately they are getting a lot of press but NO $$$.

[hockeymom441]

"The cable network also said 'the Salahis informed the production company that they were invited guests. Producers had no reason to believe otherwise'."

REALLY!?! A bunch of rich, fame-hungry, materialistic phonies... wouldn't DARE lie to get in the spotlight.

I give this couple credit for playing Bravo for the morons they are!

[blindersoff]

Bravo should not still have this couple under consideration for the show. Why encourage this type of behavior? If they choose them after this they may as well give the balloon boys family their own show.

[lpgideon]

Ya know what? Anyone crashing a party of celebrities in Beverly Hills might be criminally charged with trespass. Now, the White House is a public facility that is visitable under normal visiting rules. Can it be that the couple could also be charged with criminally trespassing?

[jeannettelj]

Isn't there another news story coming up as we are getting pretty sick of this one. As usual the news media beat a story to death. Lately it was Jon and Kate and now the Salahis'. Give it a rest!!