facebook.comLook out, Balloon Brood, you've got a couple other reality-TV-aspiring jokers ready to give you a run for your money felony count.
The Virginia couple who managed to crash a state dinner at the White House this week and get up close and personal with President Barack Obama is the subject of a federal investigation, officials announced Friday.
At the behest of the president himself, investigators for the Secret Service are seeking evidence to potentially file charges against Michaele and Tareq Salahi—a couple attempting to land a spot on Bravo's upcoming Real Housewives of D.C.
The Salahis on Tuesday snuck into the president's first state dinner, honoring the prime minister of India, then posted pictures of themselves hobnobbing with dignitaries, including the veep, on Mrs. Salahi's Facebook page.
The duo even managed to meet the first family on a receiving line, bypassing the Secret Services with nary an invitation or red flag.
And now Bravo, on the verge of launching the latest installment in its popular reality franchise, is scrambling to distance itself from any shenanigans, insisting to E! News that the Salahis participation has "not been finalized."
According to Bravo, the Salahis told producers they were really invited to the gala and were filmed primping for the event.
"[Show prouducers] Half Yard Productions were filming the Salahis on that day as they prepared for the event, that's the extent of our involvement," Bravo said Friday.
President Obama isn't taking the incident lightly, either.
He ordered a full review of the the Salahi security slip-up after the incident was brought to light Wednesday, a White House official said Friday.
The matter was then referred to the Secret Service's internal affairs division, leading to a full investigation that will continue into next week, according to Secret Service spokesman Jim Mackin.
While Mackin said the agency hasn't determined whether or not party-crashing is illegal, it hasn't ruled out pursuing criminal charges against the fame-seeking socialites.
Secret Services is taking full responsibility for the mishap, and said the couple may have managed to crash the White House bash because procedures weren't followed at one of the checkpoints and invitations weren't checked properly.
The agency would like to have a word with the social-climbing duo, however.
Two Secret Service agents already popped in to a Virginia winery founded by Tareq's father in search of the couple. But the agents came away empty-handed.
Perhaps now would be a good time for the Salahis to remove those Facebook pictures. Just a thought.
(Originally published on Nov. 27, 2009, at 4:19 p.m. PT)
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Take a look at legal ways celebs have checked out the political scene in our Hollywood Gets Political gallery.