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CNN Live Saturday

Gary Condit Faces Criticism for Lack of Candor

Aired August 25, 2001 - 12:04   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.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Turning to Gary Condit and the Chandra Levy investigation. It seems to be one step forward, two steps back for the embattled California congressman. He is facing a barrage of criticism following a network interview on Levy's disappearance, and now he is on the defensive once again. CNN's Bob Franken joins us live from Modesto, California with more from there. Good afternoon, Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning here, Brian. Of course, it's three hour time difference, and I would point out that if Gary Condit's purpose in doing this media barrage was to try and change the complexion of his political future, so far it seems to be that it has turned darker. Condit is now facing more calls if not for his resignation then suggestions that he might not be welcome as a member of Congress.

One of the very, very strong indications of that came from the Democratic leader in Congress, Richard Gephardt, who is not somebody who speaks in very, very elaborate ways. He is very, very careful in his language, and he was quite critical of Condit's appearance on television and the what he considered the evasive answers that Condit gave to some of the questions by Connie Chung and some of the interviewers.

And that has been pointed out by "The Modesto Bee." "The Modesto Bee" is the largest newspaper in Condit's district. Two weeks ago, they called for his resignation, and following the interview and following the comments by Congressman Dick Gephardt, "The Modesto Bee" has put out a new editorial today that says "he'd be wise to quit before it gets worse."

Now, Condit is assessing his political fortunes, and meanwhile his staff and advisers are trying to clear up what they say may be misconceptions from the interview. Notable was his attorney, Abbe Lowell, who appeared last night on CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE." He was talking about the exchange during the interview on ABC with Connie Chung, which went: "Why would you want her," meaning Anne Marie Smith, the woman who claims to have also had an affair with Congressman Condit, "why would you want her to say that she did not have a relationship with you?" And Condit's answer was, "because she didn't."

Of course, everybody is jumping on that. Anne Marie Smith's, the flight attendant's lawyer, is now saying that she would be able to prove that she did, so Abbe Lowell on "LARRY KING LIVE" tried to put a new spin on the answer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "LARRY KING LIVE")

ABBE LOWELL, CONDIT'S ATTORNEY: I don't want to play so many word games with anybody, but look, words do count when you are trying to communicate. Now, Anne Marie Smith may have considered whatever her dealings with Congressman Condit to be, quote, "a relationship," and what Congressman Condit was trying to say is, whatever their dealings were, whatever they shared, whatever they were to each other, it was not a relationship.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: So the questions now are, will Condit's media strategy be terminated? Will he decide that he needs to do more to supplement things? And of course, he has to decide his political future, Brian. Up until now, his staff has been quite adamant in saying he would run for reelection. Condit in his round of interviews made it clear that that is still a decision that he has to make -- Brian.

NELSON: Does he intend to make a pilgrimage back to Washington to try to mend fences with Gephardt and some of his colleagues?

FRANKEN: Well, that's an interesting question, because, it look like the relationship with his colleagues in Congress has gone from bad to worse, if the Gephardt's comments are any indication, and the comments from other colleagues. One would assume that he is going back after the congressional recession, which occurs a little bit over a week from now. But at the moment, it looks like that he would be going back to what is at the very least a cool reception.

NELSON: All right, thank you, CNN's Bob Franken who's in Modesto, California.

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