Erwin Gomez testifies before grand jury in Salahi case

James Packard-Gomez, Erwin Gomez and stylist Peggy Ioakim talk to reporters outside U.S. District Court in Washington, after Gomez and Ioakim testified before a federal grand jury regarding the Salahi gate-crashing incident. (Amy Argetsinger/The Washington Post)

Gomez and Co. arrived in a white Hummer stretch limo. (Amy Argetsinger/The Washington Post)

What kind of witness shows up for a date with a federal grand jury in a white stretch Hummer? The "celebrity stylist" who groomed Tareq and Michaele Salahi before their infamous night at the White House gave a press corps a little taste of circus at the D.C. federal courthouse Tuesday.

Erwin Gomez, the Georgetown salon owner, and colleague Peggy Ioakim -- hair artist, please, not hairstylist -- were subpoenaed to testify to a grand jury apparently probing the Nov. 24 state dinner breach.

A media scrum two dozen strong jostled as the two -- along with lawyer David Tobin and Gomez's business partner/former life partner James Packard-Gomez -- disembarked on Constitution Avenue NW, one cameraman getting knocked over in the push. Ironic, considering that the salonistas have already told reporters plenty about their day with the Salahis -- how Gomez demanded an advance payment from the couple, who had stiffed them previously; how he wrapped Michaele's red sari; how the reality-TV cameras following them made the whole session last six hours.

After four hours in the courthouse, the foursome emerged to tell reporters...not much of anything: Tobin said they had to respect client confidentiality.

"As an American citizen, I am here to do our duty," said Gomez, who wore all black, down to sunglasses glistening with tiny Louis Vuitton logos. "Thank you for all the support and the love. My customers know that I am very private."