Gatecrasher Salahi's White House sari to be auctioned

The live auction of the sari, which became an item of accidental White House history and public fascination following the gate-crashing episode in November last year, will be attended by the Salahi couple -- Michaele an Tareq -- on October 2.

It will coincide with the episode of the Bravo television network's 'The Real Housewives of DC' that will feature the excitement and controversy caused by the Salahis' attendance at the White House dinner for Prime Minister Singh.

The Salahis have directed the auction gallery to forward a portion of their proceeds from the sale to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund and a second charity to be announced on September 15.
Lucie Holland of The Potomack Company, a Washington area all-female owned and managed auction house, said that she and her colleagues "are pleased to help the Salahis 'make lemonade out of lemons' from their White House experience by selling the sari that was seen around the world to raise money for the benefit of two worthy charities."

On her part, Michaele Salahi said: "We are supporting the former Presidents' relief effort in Haiti as one of the charities because it does so much to meet the dire needs of the Haitian people and because we appreciate its bipartisan nature."

Viewing of the sari at the auction gallery will begin on September 25.Bids are being accepted in person at the gallery by telephone, in absentee form in advance and live via the internet.