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U.S. Congressman Condit Admits Levy Relationship
U.S. Congressman Gary Condit acknowledged Thursday he had a ``very close'' relationship with former intern Chandra Levy but denied he had any role in her disappearance nearly four months ago.
Condit repeatedly refused to answer questions from ABC's Connie Chung about whether his relationship with Levy was sexual, saying only ``I've been married for 34 years, and I've not been a ... a perfect man, and I've made my share of mistakes.''
The interview marked Condit's first extended public comments about Levy's disappearance, and the start of a public relations offensive by the seven-term congressman.
The interview opened with a series of blunt questions about the 24-year-old woman vanishing. Condit denied he had anything to do with her disappearance, knew anyone who wanted to harm her, or had caused anyone to harm her. ``Did you kill Chandra Levy?'' Chung asked. ``I did not,'' the lawmaker said.
Washington police, stymied by the lack of clues about Levy's whereabouts, have scaled back their investigation, and Police Chief Charles Ramsey has said it's possible she never will be found.
Condit was emphatic that he had cooperated with police. ``I answered every question that was asked of me,'' he said.
Condit said he met Levy, 24, then a Bureau of Prisons intern from Modesto, in his home district, last October, and ``we became very close.'' Asked whether they were in love, the 53-year-old married congressman said:
``I don't know that she was in love with me. She never said so. And I was not in love with her.''
Condit sat almost knee-to-knee across from Chung during the interview, which was conducted in Modesto. His wife and two grown children watched from a monitor in a nearby room.
Condit has been criticized by some of his congressional colleagues and constituents for waiting nearly four months to talk publicly about Levy. Three newspapers serving his district have called for his resignation.
Levy was last seen at a health club near her Washington apartment. Police have interviewed Condit four times, but have said repeatedly he is not a suspect and that they have no solid leads about her whereabouts.
Levy's parents, Dr. Robert and Susan Levy, planned to watch the ABC interview alone at their home in Modesto. The anguished parents have become familiar figures through television interviews and almost daily appearances in their driveway to plead for their daughter's safe return.
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