Hair Stylists for White House Crashers Talk to Federal Grand Jury
Arriving in a white Hummer limousine, two hair stylists for the Salahis testify.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, 2010— -- The hair stylist and makeup artist for Michaele Salahi, one of the infamous White House gate crashers, appeared before a federal grand jury Tuesday. Celebrity stylist Erwin Gomez and Peggy Ioakim testified at the U.S. District Court in Washington as the inquiry into White House State Dinner Crasher-gate ramps up.
Subpoenas were issued to the two to testify as a federal prosecutors and the Secret Service try to determine if false statements were made after Tareq and Michaele Salahior and Carlos Allen, all allegedly talked their way into the Obama's first state dinner. Prior to testifying before the grand jury the two stylists met with U.S. Secret Service agents.
On the day of the State Dinner Michaele Salahi spent 6 hours at the Erwin Gomez Salon & Spa in Georgetown. Gomez and Ioakim were presumably asked about what Michaele Salahi said in preparation for the State dinner according to individuals at the U.S. Courthouse.
Prosecutors are believed to be laying the groundwork for calling other witnesses who may have known about the Salahis and Allen's attendance at the State Dinner. The lead prosecutor on the case is Karla-Dee Clark, according to a courthouse source. Clark has handled a variety of cases and is a former chief of the major crimes section for the U.S. Attorney's office.
The spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office which is handling the investigation declined to comment on the case when contacted by ABC News.