In an interview with CNN, the brother of Tareq Salahi said he wasn't surprised his brother and sister-in-law got into the White House state dinner without an invitation.

"I wasn't terribly surprised by it," said Ismail Salahi, who said he hasn't had contact with his brother for five years. "I was shocked by it, but I don't definitely put it past him and his wife to do something like this."

Asked if the couple should be punished, he said, "I think they should definitely be treated like anybody else, celebrity status or not."

He also said Tareq Salahi has been involved in a "bitter family feud for about 10 years" with his parents. Ismail Salahi said he's been on their parents' side, helping them to "get away from the trouble that [Tareq and Michaele Salahi] have been causing."