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CNN Live At Daybreak

Congressman Condit Responds to Flight Attendant's Allegations

Aired July 04, 2001 - 08:03   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.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: New developments to tell you about this morning in the missing intern case. California Congressman Gary Condit makes a statement after a two-week silence.

With the story getting more and more complicated now, national correspondent Bob Franken is here to help us sort it out a little bit -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And after almost a day, Congressman Condit responded to the allegations that were included in an interview with a flight attendant, Anne Marie Smith, in which she said not only that she had had a romantic relationship with Congressman Condit, but that he had asked her to sign a sworn affidavit, lying under oath, in effect, that they did not have a romantic relationship.

All of this, as you pointed out, Colleen, is part of the investigation into the disappearance of 24-year-old Chandra Levy, the former Washington intern, also alleged to have had a romantic relationship with Congressman Condit. He has denied that, and he also denied, in a statement from Modesto, that he had asked Anne Marie Smith to lie saying, "I have not asked anyone to refrain from discussing this matter with authorities, nor have I suggested that anyone mislead the authorities." And by authorities, he means the FBI. The FBI has interviewed Anne Marie Smith as part of the nationwide investigation into the disappearance of Chandra Levy.

Now, Condit's attorney also put out a statement saying that the affidavit that was sent to him was only a draft, but the attorney told reporters, out in Seattle, yesterday, that he had a quick reaction to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM ROBINSON, SMITH'S ATTORNEY: I read that to her on the phone, and I told her I wouldn't let her sign it. And she said, Don't worry, I am not going to; I wouldn't sign something like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: Now, almost lost in all of this discussion is this story, as far as any investigation expands into so many different areas, is the fact that Chandra Levy has been missing for over nine weeks, and nobody knows where she is -- Colleen. MCEDWARDS: All right, Bob, so what are Congressman Condit's plans at this point?

FRANKEN: Well, he is in Modesto, California, which is his home, his congressional district. Every year, he marches in the July Fourth parade. There has been a lot of meetings among members of his staff to decide whether he should in fact participate in this year's parade, given the fact that there's a lot of media attention. Apparently, the decision is he will be in the parade, but there will be very heavy security, security to make sure that the media stay in line.

MCEDWARDS: All right, CNN's Bob Franken, thanks very much.

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