With deep regret, Ambassador Chris Stevens was unable to attend

This morning, the intrepid investigative team at The Hill finally discovered evidence of a secret, swanky party held at the White House to celebrate Barack Obama's second inauguration.

Its discovery was apparently quite a coup, even though US Magazine had reported on it, oh, the morning after--on January 22nd. But shhh, don't spoil The Hill's scoop:

There's no party like a White House party

By Emily Goodin - 05/07/13 05:00 AM ET

Bill and Hillary Clinton, actress Kerry Washington, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and producer Harvey Weinstein were among those who joined the Obamas at the White House’s secret post-inauguration bash.

President Obama and Michelle Obama held the hush-hush, swanky, ultra-A-list party to celebrate his second term the night he took the oath of office. The party was not announced or listed on his official schedule, but a few of the guests tweeted about the event, which is what publicly revealed its existence.

The guest list that reveals who attended was never released though the White House visitors log from January, which came out at the end of April and was examined by The Hill: a mix of rock stars, actors, top campaign donors, White House aides, Obama friends and leading Democratic politicians.

Some of the names include actor Jamie Foxx; Obama adviser David Axelrod; Rep. Joaquín Castro (D-Texas) and his twin brother, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro; singer Kelly Clarkson; Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.); actress Eva Longoria; singer James Taylor; former NBA player Alonzo Mourning; Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D); and former White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. Clinton aide Huma Abedin was on the list, but her husband, former New York Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner, was not.

...Actress Ashley Judd and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) were among the list of names under that grouping, and both tweeted about the event... Judd wrote, “How to arrive at the White House in style? Bum a ride from a kind citizen who happens to be off duty Secret Service!”

She later wrote, “It was elegant, warm, fun, & then an amazingly joyful house party. We had such a magical night.” ... McCaskill tweeted, “Now we are rocking at the WH. Happy Inauguration. #2013inaug,” along with a blurry photo of a singer. The names of singers Usher and John Mayer were also on the list.

...Other names in the grouping include Commerce Secretary nominee Penny Pritzker; longtime Obama friends Eric and Cheryl Whitaker; Obama aides/advisers Ben Rhodes, Jim Messina, Julianna Smoot and Jeremy Bird; actress Whoopi Goldberg; Gayle King; actress Jennifer Hudson; and Attorney General Eric Holder.

In related news, Obama hit the links yesterday for his record 121st round of golf as president.

Coincidentally, despite the president's laser-like focus on jobs, the Social Security Administration disclosed that the number of Americans collecting disability benefits (nearly 11 million) now exceeds the population of Greece. And a record 23 million (or one out of every five) households are on food stamps.


Hat tip: Michael M.