Gatecrashers Saga

Social Secretary Won't Testify

GOP decries “stonewalling” as WH shields Desiree Rogers.

The Obama administration invoked the separation of powers clause Wednesday with its decision to keep social secretary Desiree Roberts from testifying before Congress about the Virginia socialites who crashed a White House state dinner. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the White House was changing procedures in response to the brouhaha; from now on, a member of the social secretary’s staff will be at each of the Secret Service’s guest checkpoints to keep out any intruders—fame-seeking or otherwise. But, Gibbs said, “the staff here don’t go to testify before Congress.” President George W. Bush infuriated congressional Democrats when he kept adviser Karl Rove from testifying, and now it’s Republicans’ turn to get heated. Rep. Peter King (R-NY) decried the decision as “stonewalling” and warned of a bigger confrontation.