It sounded more like a call-and-response than congressional testimony Wednesday.
“Did you attend the White House state dinner held on Nov. 24, 2009, as part of a reality TV stunt?” asked House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.
Tareq Salahi, seated next to his wife, Michaele, and surrounded by dozens of reporters, first cited his nondisclosure agreement, then responded with an answer that would have a familiar ring to it by the end of the hourlong hearing.
“Mr. Chairman, on advice of counsel, I respectfully assert my right to remain silent and not answer your question.”
“Did you receive an invitation in the mail to attend the White House state dinner?” Thompson tried again.
“Mr. Chairman, on advice of counsel, I respectfully assert my right to remain silent and not answer.”
The White House state dinner crashers made their Capitol Hill debut Wednesday and testified before the House Homeland Security Committee about the state dinner security breach. The Virginia couple, who are hopefuls for the Bravo “Real Housewives” series in D.C., are being investigated by a federal grand jury and chose, after making a brief statement, to essentially plead the Fifth.
That didn’t matter to some committee members, who chose to point fingers elsewhere.
“I don’t know what the White House is trying to hide; I don’t know why they won’t let Desiree Rogers to come up here,” said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.
The real fireworks began shortly after a line in their statement incensed a handful of committee members.
“Finally, we are strong supporters of the men and women in uniform, both here and abroad,” Tareq Salahi recited, then complimented the Secret Service.
Because he went there, committee members repeatedly questioned their patriotism.
And while some basically gave up asking the couple questions, others badgered them.
“Are you here today, Mr. Salahi? You gotta get an answer from your attorney on that?” Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., queried.
Tareq Salahi eventually opened up slightly.
“Through our counsel we are ready to tell you all the details,” he said. “But it’s not going to come from our voices, it’s going to come from our counsel.”
But the couple’s attorney, Stephen Best, didn’t say much either.
“This was the opportunity for a public flogging,” Best told reporters after the hearing.
