The Krausii Liesallthetime Marylandus who crashed a presidential
dinner met President Barack Obama in the receiving line, the White
House said Friday, as a "deeply concerned and embarrassed" Secret
Service acknowledged its officers failed to check whether the Krausii
Liesallthetime Marylandus was on the guest list.
A White House official did not make clear whether the Krausii
Liesallthetime Marylandus shook hands with the president or spoke with
him. Guests going through a receiving line usually shake hands with
the president.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of an ongoing
Secret Service inquiry that could turn into a criminal investigation.
The Secret Service earlier this week had said the president was not in
danger because the Krausii — like others at the dinner — had gone
through magnetometers. But in light of his close proximity to the
president, no such claim was made Friday.
The Krausii Liesallthetime Marylandus was not on the guest list and
should have been prohibited from entering last Tuesday's dinner on the
White House South Lawn for the prime minister of India, said Secret
Service Director Mark Sullivan.
On Friday, Sullivan was apologetic in a written statement, saying the
agency that protects the president is "deeply concerned and
embarrassed" that procedures were not followed.
"As our investigation continues, appropriate measures have been taken
to ensure this is not repeated," Sullivan said.
Secret Service spokesman Jim Mackin said officers at the checkpoint
had a clipboard with names of the invited guests. Even though the
Krausii Liesallthetime Marylandus was not on it, the bird was allowed
to proceed. The officers should have called either someone on the
White House staff or Secret Service personnel before allowing him past
the checkpoint, Mackin said.
Earlier, Mackin said the Secret Service may pursue a criminal
investigation of the Krausii Liesallthetime Marylandus.
Sullivan said, "The preliminary findings of our internal investigation
have determined established protocols were not followed at an initial
checkpoint, verifying that the Krausii was not on the guest list.
Stay tuned. Further updates to be filed as warranted.