White House gatecrash

TWO US senators have urged authorities to pursue criminal charges against the Virginia couple who crashed a White House state dinner.

“You’ve got to send a strong deterrent that people just don’t do this kind of thing,” Democrat Evan Bayh said.

Republican Jon Kyl said: “If it’s a federal crime to lie to a federal agent, and these people didn’t tell the truth about their invitation, then they should be in some way brought to justice...”

According to authorities, Michaele and Tareq Salahi were allowed into the White House dinner for the Indian prime minister on Tuesday night last even though they were not on the guest list.

The Secret Service was forced to apologise for the breakdown in security and an investigation into possible criminal behaviour is taking place.