Gatecrashers Thought Defense Official Scored Invites

Sources say emails support Salahis' story
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 1, 2009 5:41 AM CST
Gatecrashers Thought Defense Official Scored Invites
Michele S. Jones, seen here speaking at last year's Democratic National Convention, denies that she told the Salahis that she could get them into the White House dinner last week.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)

Secret Service investigators are examining an email exchange between the Salahis and a Pentagon official that allegedly caused the gatecrashers to believe they were invited to last week's state dinner. The emails contain assurances from Michele Jones that she was doing her best to score the couple an invite, sources tell the Washington Post.

Jones, however, says she told the couple that she didn't have the authority to grant access. The special assistant to Defense Secretary Robert Gates declined to tell a Post reporter how she knew the couple. "I am not going to say anything at this point at all." she said. "In fact, I am going to terminate the call right now because I am not sure what in the world is going on here." The Salahis are scheduled to appear on the Today show this morning.
(More Tareq and Michaele Salahi stories.)

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