Both Barbara Walters and Meryl Streep have stolen souvenirs from the White House

(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

published 8 May 2015

If you're ever invited to dinner at Meryl Streep's house, take a minute to examine her hand towels. They might be contraband.

Whether they're for diplomats, celebrities, or honorees, the lavish events hosted by the White House are apparently subject to light larceny, according to The Washington Post. Among the sticky-fingered guests? Barbara Walters and Meryl Streep. From the Post:

"One percenters are not above taking a few White House knickknacks. Television personality Barbara Walters became so notorious for swiping washroom towels that in 2012 the first family sent her a basket of tchotchkes from the residence, including a spoon. … Oscar winner Meryl Streep is also a repeat offender. Streep first 'fessed up to pocketing hand towels when she visited the White House as a Kennedy Center honoree in 2011. Three years later she was back again in the ladies' washroom... when another guest started eyeing the towels stamped with a presidential seal. 'Go ahead, take one, I already put one in my purse,' Streep told the woman, in a conversation confirmed by the actress through a spokeswoman." [The Washington Post]

While the desire to snag a souvenir from a trip to the White House is understandable, it actually could be costing taxpayers thousands of dollars to fund replacements. So, Meryl, mind buying your own hand towels in the future? — Kimberly Alters