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Obama first State Dinner gatecrashed

By James Gordon Meek and Jose Martinez | NY Daily News

US President Barack Obama greeted Michaele and Tareq Salahi, right, at his first state dinner on Tuesday. Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the state dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House on 24 November 2009 honouring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.Samantha Appleton/White House/US

The White House party crashers got face time with President Obama — deepening the shame of the Secret Service, it was revealed.

A stunning photo captures the moment when Obama gripped and grinned with socialite Michaele Salahi and beaming hubby, Tareq, on a receiving line at his first state dinner.

As the reality show wanna-bes faced possible criminal charges, the Secret Service said it was “deeply embarrassed and concerned” about the wacky stunt.

The agency admitted its officers did not check if the couple was on the guest list before allowing them access to the most powerful man on the planet. A source told the Daily News the Salahis also didn’t get a pre-event background check.

“Although these individuals went through magnetometers and other levels of screening, they should have been prohibited from entering the event entirely,” said Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan.

“That failing is ours.”

An internal investigation is underway, and government sources told The News that employees might be fired.

The Salahis — who are vying for a spot on the Bravo show “Real Housewives of Washington, DC” — could be arrested. Among the possible charges is a felony count of lying to a federal agent, a Secret Service source said.

After being ushered into the dinner, the Salahis got up close and personal with Vice President Biden and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

The spotlight-loving spouses posted party snaps on Facebook, showing them cozying up to CBS anchor Katie Couric and Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty.

“The White House Marines welcome Michaele to the State Dinner,” read the caption on a photo of the blond ex-cheerleader posing with three smiling leathernecks.

A lawyer for the polo-loving pair insisted the Salahis did nothing wrong — and suggested their 15 minutes aren’t over.

“My clients were cleared by the White House to be there,” Paul Gardner told Washington Life magazine. “We will make them available to the media starting next week.”

Secret Service agents checked out the couple’s northern Virginia home, where a white stretch limo was parked in the driveway.

Calling the media glare “the worst experience of my life,” Michaele Salahi’s 82-year-old mother insisted the pair would be cleared.

“I know my daughter and she’s truthful,” Rosemary Holt said.

“It’s going to be resolved, let’s put it that way,” she said. “You’ll see when it’s investigated and the results are in.”

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Published in NY Daily News