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The U.S. Secret Service said Wednesday proper procedure was not followed at a White House checkpoint, allowing two crashers into a state dinner Tuesday.
Tareq and Michaele Salahi, described as aspiring reality TV stars from Virginia, wangled their way into the state dinner honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh even though they were not on the guest list, The Washington Post reported. The couple posted photographs online showing them with Vice President Joe Biden and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.
"Honored to be at the White House for the state dinner in honor of India with President Obama and our First Lady!" said a posting on their Facebook page, the Post reported.
The couple are said to be socialites who may be featured in the TV show, "The Real Housewives of Washington."
Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan told The New York Times "initial findings identified a Secret Service checkpoint that did not follow proper procedures."
Donovan told the Post no one at the dinner "was under any risk or threat."
"Everyone who enters the White House grounds goes through magnetometers and several other levels of screenings," he said. "That was the case with the state dinner last night."
An administration official told the Post the White House will review the matter.
The uninvited couple were announced as they arrived on the red carpet, where they spoke with other guests ahead of a cocktail reception. Michaele posed for a snapshot with a Marine guard outside the White House and with CBS News anchor Katie Couric inside.
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