Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Gary Condit Speaks Out in Father's Favor
Aired August 28, 2001 - 10:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now we move onto a story with another political equation: The scandal ensnaring Congressman Gary Condit of California. That state's governor has now joined the chorus of criticism, both of Condit's dealing with the police and his recent series of interviews.
But Condit's son, who himself is an aide to Governor Gray Davis, draws a much different picture. He gave an exclusive interview to our Larry King. Our national correspondent Bob Franken has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Now that Gary Condit's public effort to rescue his political career has seemed to falter, badly, his son Chad Condit is now out trying to rescue his father.
CHAD CONDIT, GARY CONDIT'S SON: When folks start calling my dad a murderer, or suggesting my mom and dad had something to do with the disappearance, that's too much.
FRANKEN: On "LARRY KING LIVE," the younger Condit made it clear his father's political plans are decidedly, undecided.
CONDIT: I don't know if he'll run again. My family vote would be that he doesn't. I don't think he deserves this. I don't think my mom deserves this. But that will be decided in the next few weeks.
FRANKEN: Chad Condit questioned his own future in politics. But for now, he handles the areas regional matters for California Governor Gray Davis. His sister also works for Governor Davis. But even Davis was critical of his old friend Gary Condit.
GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: I'm disheartened that Congressman Condit did not speak out more quickly or more fully.
FRANKEN: Gary Condit has resumed his seclusion while the storm over his role in the Chandra Levy case roars on without him.
Attorneys for flight attendant Anne Marie Smith went directly to the local grand jury seeking an indictment of Condit. She charges, he asked her to lie under oath about their relationship. He denies a relationship. A spokesman for Condit referred to these developments as a tabloidization of the Chandra Levy case. County prosecutors say the lawyers will probably not succeed with the grand jury approach. So, the attorneys also filed a report with the Modesto police.
One of the Smith attorneys was harshly critical of the Washington, D.C., police.
STERLING NORRIS, ANNE MARIE SMITH'S ATTORNEY: The Washington, D.C., police are ridiculous. Any good homicide detective, under the evidence that they have against Gary Condit, would have had -- would have him as the number one suspect, and they wouldn't look at anybody else until they would have eliminated it.
FRANKEN: Washington, D.C., Assistant Police Chief Terrance Gainer retorted: "He doesn't have all the facts we have and he's not in a position to judge who's a suspect and who's not."
(on camera): The Chandra Levy investigation is stymied, so there's frustration on all sides. Frustration, and still a growing controversy over the role of Gary Condit. Daryn?
KAGAN: Bob, let's get back to the question of whether Gary Condit will run for reelection. And how will it play, and how will it influence his decision how California is redistricted?
FRANKEN: Well, it could have a big influence. The redistricting of course means that every 10 years the boundaries are redrawn of Congressional districts based on population. But, oftentimes there are political considerations as well. There's some talk in Sacramento of drawing the boundaries so it might be a little bit less favorable to Congressman Condit.
We may find that out, at least the first parts of that, in the next couple of day. That could be a big influence, but the other influences: A growing clamor for him to maybe consider, if not resigning, not running next term.
KAGAN: Bob Franken in Modesto. Bob, thank you. Also, this note for our viewers, Anne Marie Smith, the flight attendant who alleges that she had that affair with Gary Condit, will be a guest tonight on Greta Van Susteren's show, that's at 8:30 eastern -- 8:30 p.m. eastern, here on CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
