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The evidence clearly shows that the congressional investigation of the White House Gatecrashers is being controlled and limited. Homeland Security Committee chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS), now the subject of an Ethics Committee investigation, has made it clear that he wants to limit the investigation. Is he trying to protect White House officials with something to hide?

Ignoring evidence of White House connections to the alleged gatecrashers, Tareq and Michaele Salahi, Thompson will not subpoena Desirée Rogers, the White House social secretary who is a very close friend of Barack and Michelle Obama.

As a result of the stonewalling and cover-up, and after several weeks of sensational media coverage, we are still no closer to answering the question: How did the Salahis get into the Arrival Ceremony of the first Obama White House state dinner on November 24, honoring the Prime Minister of India, when they were not officially invited and their names were not on the list?

The White House has consistently acted as if it has something to hide. Though an initial letter from the committee requested Ms. Rogers' attendance at the December 3rd hearing held by the committee, the White House claimed executive privilege, or separation of powers, as the reason for her to not have to testify.

This is the same White House that promised openness and transparency.

As I alluded to in a previous column, the evidence indicates that the Salahis are publicity seekers and possibly con-artists. But the verdict is still out as to whether or not they actually "crashed" the state dinner or were waved on through by White House officials aware of their connections to a notorious Obama friend and associate, pro-Palestinian activist Rashid Khalidi.

Questionable Past

An article from the Loudon Times, which covers the area where the Salahis have resided in Virginia, has delved deeper into their activities and their reputation among their neighbors: "While their current whereabouts are not confirmed, what is known about the Salahis is that their past includes a bankrupt winery; a long string of civil suits, some of which involve Loudoun businesses; cars and at least one boat repossessed; a residence in foreclosure; and his elderly parents evicted from their home."

In addition, according to the article, Charles Muldoon says he was asked by Tareq Salahi to help him organize the inaugural America's Cup polo match help raise money for lymphoma cancer research through Journey for the Cure, Salahi's "personal charity."

According to the Loudon Times, "Not only did virtually no money go to cancer research, he [Muldoon] said, but many of those who participated in the event were not paid for their work, for the supplies they had to purchase, for their time and effort. Salahi, Muldoon claims, even went so far as to stiff the local civic club that provided for parking cars."

More unwelcome attention to the Sulahis came from a blogger known as TaxGirl, who found that the Salahis have failed to file some of their corporate tax returns, had tax liens filed against them, and were spending money on items such as Redskin luxury boxes while failing to pay some of their taxes that were due.

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