Washington Redskins Statement: Michaele Salahi Never Part of Cheerleading Squad

At the San Jose Mercury News, "Redskins' Cheerleaders: White House Gate Crasher Was Never Member of Squad":

Before she made it into a White House state dinner without an official invitation, Michaele Salahi made it onto the Redskins alumni cheerleading squad — without ever having been a Redskins cheerleader.

Salahi performed at FedEx Field during halftime of the Redskins-St. Louis Rams game Sept. 20 with a group of 150 former Redskins cheerleaders. Salahi's rehearsals with the group were filmed by a crew that has been following Michaele Salahi and her husband, Tareq, for possible inclusion on a cable TV reality show, "Real Housewives of D.C."

Several alumni cheerleaders said in interviews that Michaele Salahi's presence at a rehearsal drew attention because of the presence of TV cameras, but also suspicion because no one seemed to remember her as a cheerleader for the team.

Their doubts were heightened when Salahi couldn't perform some of the basic cheerleader routines, including the standard choreography for the team's fight song, "Hail to the Redskins."

But it wasn't until stories about the Salahis' White House incident last week that the cheerleaders decided to follow up on her credentials as a Redskins cheerleader.

"She was never at an audition, never at a game and never performed" as an original cheerleader, said Sheryl Olecheck, a Redskins cheerleader from 1986-96 who choreographed the team for seven years. "When I saw her (at an alumni rehearsal), I had to ask around: 'Who is that?'"

Another alumni cheerleader said she asked Salahi who her choreographer was when she performed. "She couldn't answer," she said.

The Washington Redskins Cheerleaders Alumni Association lists Salahi on its membership roster and indicates that she was a cheerleader during 1991 season under her nickname and maiden name, Missy Holt. However, when asked by the group for proof of her participation, Salahi was unable to supply any.

The group's president, Terri Lamb, said Wednesday, "We have no record that she ever was a Redskins cheerleader. She was listed on our 1991 roster at Ms. Salahi's request and based on her misrepresentation to us."

That alleged misrepresentation enabled Michaele Salahi to become a dues-paying member in 2005 and to perform with the group at two other Redskins games at FedEx in 2005 and 2007. Neither of those appearances raised any concerns at the time.

Salahi didn't return calls or emails seeking comment Wednesday. A spokesman for the Redskins said the team was not aware of her participation in the cheerleader events.

More evidence that the Salahis are fraudsters.