| Tareq Salahi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tareq Dirgham Salahi May 26, 1969 Washington, D.C., United States |
| Alma mater | University of California, Davis |
| Occupation | Vintner; former public official |
| Spouse | Michaele Salahi - now legally separated |
Tareq Dirgham Salahi (born May 26, 1969, in Washington, D.C.) is a American vintner, former public official and a current Television personality. He and his wife, Michaele, gained world wide & national attention in November 2009 by allegedly crashing a White House state dinner in honor of India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.[1][2] In 2010, the couple were featured in the Bravo reality television show The Real Housewives of D.C.[3]
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Tareq Salahi's father, Dirgham Salahi immigrated to the United States from Jerusalem, British Mandate of Palestine in the 1940s. His mother, Corinne, is from Belgium. Dirgham was educated as a petroleum geologist and worked in the Middle East and U.S. He retired and settled in Virginia, where he became owner of an estate farm. Corinne Salahi is the founder and director of the Montessori School of Alexandria, Virginia.[4][5]
Tareq attended primary school at Ascension Academy in Alexandria and a military high school at the Randolph-Macon Academy in Front Royal, Virginia, where he graduated in 1987. He graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in oenology and business management.[6]
Tareq met Michaele Holt at a 2000 baby shower thrown in McLean, Virginia, by real estate developer N. Casey Margenau and his wife Molly.[5][7][8][9] They married in 2003 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. The reception was held at the Salahi family winery and was prepared by 46 chefs, hosted in a 36,000-square-foot (3,300 m2) tent, and culminated with a thirty-minute fireworks display and an eight-foot wedding cake. The guest list included 1,836 guests, including Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy and former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Margaret Heckler. The wedding, originally scheduled for October 2002, had been postponed numerous times, prompting Kennedy to quip that he needed to issue "subpoenas" to the bride and groom.[2][5][7][10]
On September 16, 2011, Tareq filed for divorce from Michaele following her association with Neal Schon, a member of the rock band Journey.[11][12][13]
In 1977, the Salahi family founded the Oasis Winery[14] on their estate farm in Hume, Virginia. They planted some of the first Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines in Virginia, establishing the fifth winery in the commonwealth. The Salahis developed the business into a 15,000-case-a-year operation, and, according to court papers, grossed well over $1 million in annual revenue. The vineyard's Meritage line won Gold Medals at the 1994 and 1996 world wine championships. In 1998, Oasis launched a Cuvee "Celebration" sparkling wine which also garnered top awards.[5][7][14][15]
In 1994, they formed Oasis Vineyard Inc. and appointed Tareq general manager. Tareq eventually gained a 5% minority interest in the vineyard. According to court papers, Tareq also began operating a new business out of the vineyard, Oasis Enterprises, which was developed to raise ancillary income as a venue for polo events and other functions such as weddings. Oasis Enterprises included a limo operation, wine country tours, and an events-and-catering business. A dispute arose amongst the Salahi family regarding business matters between Oasis Vineyard and Oasis Enterprises, and the winery started losing money. A lawsuit was filed, in which the Salahi family became divided and alleged, according to court filings, that assets were misdirected to Oasis Enterprises from the vineyard to the winery.[5][16] Tareq fought the charges and made counter allegations against their lawyer. He began to seek investors to buy the property from his parents, but no deal was ever reached. The winery at one point ceased operations, and the lawsuit was dropped without resolution.[16] Today the winery has reopened as a private winery, by appointment only and for private weddings and special events.
On October 6, 2010, Dirgham Salahi died and Tareq issued a statement that read "In recent days, we have come together as a family."[17]
In late 2011, the Oasis Winery reopened as a private winery, by appointment only and for private weddings and special events.
Tareq Salahi in 2002, was named National Man of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in recognition of his fundraising achievements.[18]
Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore appointed Tareq in 2000 to a three-year term on the Virginia Wine Board.[19] At the conclusion of that term, Virginia Governor Mark Warner nominated Tareq as chairman of the Virginia Wine Tourism Office. Tareq was one of 15 board members of the Virginia Tourism Corporation,[20] a "board that shapes Virginia's tourism policy", appointed by Gov. Tim Kaine in 2006. Kaine told MSNBC:
Tareq had served on the state's wine board under both Gov. Gilmore and Gov. Warner, and when his term on the wine board finished, he and the tourism board wanted him on that board because he's a great promoter—you won't be surprised to hear me say that.
During his time in office the Virginia Wineway, Loudoun Wine Trail, Blue Ridge Wineway and Virginia Wineries Alliance were created, attracting, according to a USDA study, 980,000 wine tourists to the state, of which 336,000 visited Piedmont wineries.[7][21][22][23] Virginia Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment wrote a letter to Gov. Kaine asking for Salahi's removal from the board: "Mr. Salahi's recent outrageous behavior and personal promotion in regards to trespassing in the White House is not the face we need for Virginia tourism…I would appreciate you taking swift action to avoid any further negative situations."[24] Salahi resigned from the Virginia Tourism Board on December 7, 2009 even though it was later discovered that Senator Norment had not paid Salahis Winery approximately $100,000.00 for wine he provided to the Jamestown 2007 Commission that the Senator spearheaded and refused to pay his winery 2 years prior to the White House incident.[25][26]
Salahi was a member of the board of the directors of the American Task Force on Palestine.[27][28][29]
Salahi is an experienced horseman who started show jumping at 7 and competed in numerous international Grand Prix events before taking up polo at 16. He was a regular competitor on the U.S. National Team and his Oasis squad won two U.S. Polo Association National Arena Titles in 1997 and 1998.[15]
Salahi was involved with sponsoring the Courage Cup in 2006, a polo charity event to raise funds for urban youth to experience equestrian activities. A dispute over control, vendor payment, and use of proceeds from the Courage Cup reportedly led the Salahis to found the America's Polo Cup in 2007.[30][31][32] Allegations of misuse of proceeds from the new charitable event arose,[33][34] and in December 2009 the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services opened an investigation into the annual event.[35][36]
The 2007 America's Polo Cup featured the Rock bank JOURNEY that performed after the USA vs. England Polo Match. The 2008 America's Polo Cup featured the Rock band HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS afer the USA vs. Italy Polo Match. The 2009 America's Polo Cup featured the Pop Performer "MYA" on the DC National Mall were Michelle Jones from the White House spoke on behalf of President Obama and Her Excellency Shankar spoke on behalf of India.
The 2010 America's Polo Cup final match took place on June 12 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with teams announced as United States and India. The advertised ticket price for the event was $95 per person. The event had an attendance of about 250 people, with food from PF Changs China Bistro. Reports of the event stated that the players who represented India were actually of both Indian and Pakistani origin and play polo often in Florida. A spokesman for the Embassy of India stated that neither the Embassy nor the government of India had any association with the event after the alleged White House party crashing.[37][38][39] The event's website and the US team's uniforms identified an Indian company, Kingfisher Beer, as a sponsor. A spokesperson for Kingfisher denied that the company had sponsored the event.[37]
In the 2009 White House party crashing incident, Tareq and Michaele Salahi entered a state dinner despite allegedly lacking an invitation.[1][40][41] Michaele and Tareq Salahi were cast members of Bravo's The Real Housewives of Washington, D.C., and the show filmed their preparations for the dinner and followed the couple to the White House.[42][43][44]
Following the event, Tareq Salahi was requested by the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee to appear at a hearing on December 3, 2009, but he refused to attend.[45] On December 9, 2009, the Committee on Homeland Security voted 26 to 3 to subpoena Tareq Salahi, and 27 to 2 to subpoena Michaele, for a hearing on the alleged gatecrash scheduled for January 20, 2010. The Salahis invoked the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution at the hearing.[46][47] The Salahi's attorney, Stephen Best, described the Congressional inquest as "...not a hearing looking for information. This was an opportunity for a public flogging."[48]
Attorney Steve Best addressed the truth and facts surrounding the alleged White House Party Crashing incident on Capitol Hill, immediately following the US Homeland Security Congressional Hearing. Video link available below. < [49]
Nearly one year later, the Salahis appeared again on the NBC Today Show with Matt Lauer. In that interview Matt Lauer reveals exclusively the shocking affidavit that NBC Producers & Matt Lauer had the opportunity to review. In those sworn affidavits, Matt Lauer states NBC has exclusively discovered a White House Liaison, did admit it was a huge misunderstanding caused by the White House. Video link available below. [50]
In 2009, Tareq was listed as the director of the "Journey for the Cure Foundation". His wife at the time, suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, wanted to try to help raise awareness and funds for MS and other local charities. Michaele Salahi came up with the name "Journey for the Cure" with her love for her favorite rock band and now adulterous companion, Neal Schon, the founder of the band Journey. Later, The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Office of Consumer Affairs issued a press release that cautioned consumers that "Journey for the Cure Foundation, 14141 Hume Road, Hume, Virginia, has solicited contributions from Virginia citizens for allegedly charitable purposes. However, as of May 13, 2009, this organization had not registered with or been granted the appropriate exempt status by the Commissioner as required by law".[51][52]
Tareq Salahi first appeared as a major Television personality in 2007 when he stared in the CW Networks "Where the Elite Meet". This was a Television special that focused on Salahis polo and high profile entertainment social and lifestyle events he hosted in the Washington DC region. The Television show was picked up by the CW Network for second and third renewal seasons for 2008 & 2009.
Tareq Salahi later appeared as a television star in 2010 on the Bravo reality television show The Real Housewives of D.C.. The show had the second highest ratings in any Bravo freshman series. The couples popularity throughout the world clashed with other cast members, and the conflicts continued after the show aired with all the focus on the Salahis.[53][54] The production was not flattering to the Salahis, and included coverage of the White House gate crashing in detail.[3][55] Critics have noted that the show's producers edited the material in ways that exaggerated the truth.[55]
Later, the couple filmed numerous one off Television Shows, including a Television Special with HBO Real Sports, E! Entertainment News and numerous other programming specials.
Tareq Salahi appeared on the CBS Late Show with David Letterman. Tareq Salahi makes regular appearances on the NBC Today Show. He is known to only speak with Matt Lauer when he appears. Entertainment Tonight have covered both the Salahis on a regular basis. Extra TV has featured the Salahis regularly. Inside Edition covered the Salahis on the second state dinner at the White House, were the CBS Limousine was pulled over by the US Secret Service, and the film crew and the Salahis were detained by the Secret Service. The Salahis were filming a lifestyle special for CBS Inside Edition and the show aired in November of 2010. Tareq Salahi appeared on FOX & Friends to discuss the book about his life written by Diane Dimond "Cirque du Salahi" Tareq Salahi has become a regular on various CNN/HLN shows and has also been commentating on the food & wine menus for State Dinners at the White House. Geraldo Live has featured the Salahis on a regular basis both in Los Angeles & New York offices The Early Morning Show AUSTRALIA in Sydney has featured the Salahis regularly, filming live from Channel 7 headquarters in Sydney. HBO Real Sports produced a show with the Salahis related to the involvement in the sport of Polo. Mr. Salahi captains a US Squad that plays Internationally. Saturday Night Live (SNL) spoofed the Salahis for allegedly party crashing the White House. It is viewed as one of the best openers for SNL. Viacom/VH1-MTV Networks cast both the Salahis into Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, however the taping inside the rehab center focused on Michaele Salahi were she filmed 10 days of 19 at the Pasadena Rehab Center. Mr. Tareq Salahi filmed for 3 days showing a lifestyle segment. It was discovered later that Michaele Salahi did not have any real addiction and was no longer included in the programming due to the tremendous media pre-coverage.
Most recently, The History Channel cast Mr. Tareq Salahi into America's Book of Secrets. The TV Show is set to air in early 2012 as a one-off. It is unclear what the show will discuss, however sources close to production have indicated it will be a play by play of how the Salahis got into the White House and what really happened at the White House and Michaele Salahis real role.
Access Hollywood in November of 2011 announced that a dating show is in development with Mr. Salahi. However it is unconfirmed if/when production will start.
Sources close to NBC Universal have indicated that Mr. Salahi may also be making cameo appearances on a new reality TV Show coming to one of its sister cable networks related to single women being paired by professional match makers with single men. The premise of the show focuses on the matchmakers advice and do they practice what they preach. The air date for this new show has not been announced at the time of this information was made available.