Tareq and Michaele Salahi have turned down the opportunity to appear in Congress on Thursday — to explain how, exactly, they gained access to the White House State Dinner.

The couple’s publicist says The Real Housewives of DC hopefuls have declined to testify because they’ve already furnished lawmakers with information, The Associated Press reports. On Wednesday, The Salahis released emails they say prove they were invited to the dinner. The House’s Homeland Security Committee warns that if the pair do not appear at today’s hearing, they’ll be forced to testify by court order.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

“The Salahis’ testimony is important to explain how a couple circumvented layers of security at the White House on the evening of a state dinner without causing alarm,” Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, the committee chairman, said in a late-evening statement. “If the Salahis are absent from tomorrow’s hearing, the committee is prepared to move forward with subpoenas to compel their appearance.”