The Hair Parade: Hairstylists roll up to federal court, talk Salahi

Stylist Erwin Gomez, hair artist Peggy Ioakim, Erwin Gomez Salon Chief Executive Officer James Packard Gomez and their attorney David Tobin made quite the entrance Tuesday when they arrived at the federal courthouse in D.C. in a huge stretch Hummer limo to talk about the White House gate-crashers.

Gomez and Ioakim talked with Secret Service and prosecutors and also testified before a grand jury about their conversations with the couple the day of the White House state dinner. Ioakim worked on Michaele Salahi’s hair that day.

The foursome entered and exited the courthouse in a media blitz and talked briefly with reporters upon leaving.

“It was a good experience. As an American citizen, I’m here to serve my country,” said Gomez, who made a point of saying the salon respected its patrons’ privacy. Packard Gomez, who did not testify, later elaborated to Yeas & Nays: “This was a matter of national security, and that is the only reason why we would ever talk.”

He was worried the Salahis were being viewed as salon regulars by the media.

“Michaele Salahi had never been in our salon until that day, and unfortunately it didn’t come across that way,” Packard Gomez said. Erwin Gomez had done Michaele Salahi’s hair for her wedding, before he had his own salon, and the Salahis had owed him money for that.

“Erwin got a little tongue-tied because he did work on their wedding seven years ago, but that was at another establishment,” Packard Gomez added.

But there also was an upside to being associated with the pair. Packard Gomez told Yeas & Nays the outpour of support had been so great that both the limo and the lawyer were free.

“We just feel really, really blessed,” he said.

Reston Limousine would not confirm that the limousine was gratis.

Packard Gomez said he couldn’t say if he thought the couple deserved to be punished, or if they should be banned from the salon.

“Everyone’s welcome at our salon, especially when they pay,” he said.