Washington: An American couple, who
gatecrashed into a State Dinner President Barack Obama hosted
for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the White House,
were now trying to peddel their story for hundreds of
thousands of dollars to television networks.
The Virginia socialites and aspiring reality TV stars,
Michaele and Tareq Salahi, who came face to face with Obama as
well as Singh on Tuesday, remained elusive, The Washington
Post reported today.
They remained elusive as reports surfaced that the
Salahis were trying to sell their story for hundreds of
thousands of dollars and CNN said the couple's upcoming
appearance on "Larry King Live" had been cancelled, it said.
The New York Times cited television executives making
the same claim, also speaking on condition of anonymity. "They
are asking for best offers from all the networks," the
newspaper quoted one as saying.
American network news divisions generally do not pay for
interviews.
A news agency said the couple's appearance on Monday had been
cancelled after producers were told that the Salahis were
postponing.
A news agency also reported that the Salahis were
offering to talk to broadcast networks about their experience
and were looking for a payment in the mid-six figures range.
According to the report, representatives for the couple
contacted networks to urge them to "get their bids in" for an
interview.
The voicemail box for the couple's publicist, Mahogany
Jones, was full Saturday night, and she did not respond to an
e-mail. Their attorney, Paul W. Gardner, did not respond to a
phone message, the Times said.
Meanwhile, no one answered the door Saturday at the
couple's house in Front Royal, where reporters and
photographers were staked out. A CBS employee folded a
handwritten note into the door, promising the couple that they
would get a fair hearing of their side of the story if they
talked with anchor Katie Couric.
The US Secret Service apologised on Friday for the
security breach, saying protocols were not followed Tuesday
night when the Salahis gained entry to President Obama's first
state dinner.
A spokesman for the Secret Service said criminal
charges had not been ruled out as it has now been confirmed
that the American couple came face to face with Obama as well
as Singh, contrary to claims by secret service that they did
not endangered the VVIP's.
A White House picture posted on several US websites
showed the Salahis being greeted and shaking hands with the US
President at a reception line, with the Indian Prime Minister
smiling alongside.
The secret service earlier this week had said that the
President was never in danger as the couple, who attended the
State Dinner without an invitation, like other guests had gone
through four layers of security checks.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, November 29, 2009, 21:51