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CNN Live At Daybreak

Missing Intern's Parents Demand Lie Detector Test for Congressman Gary Condit

Aired July 09, 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: Carol, a demand this morning that Congressman Gary Condit take a lie detector test. "The Washington Post" reports Chandra Levy's parents want a polygraph test, to determine how much Condit knows about the disappearance of their daughter.

Details now from CNN's national correspondent Bob Franken -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was hardly a surprise, Colleen. The family of Chandra Levy, almost from the beginning, has been forcing the hand of Congressman Gary Condit, and of course, the question that had been on everybody's minds for several weeks was answered by Condit, when he was interviewed by police on Friday night. The police said they were dissatisfied with his responses before concerning the relationship, but Condit told them, according to police sources, that yes, he did have a romantic relationship with Chandra Levy, the 24-year old former Washington intern -- not an intern for him, but an intern in Washington -- who was preparing to go back to California after her internship ended, when she disappeared around the 1st of May.

Now, Condit made that admission, although that was not something that was confirmed by the police when they held their news conference on Saturday night. They did say that Condit is not now, has not been, a suspect in this case. They did say that they were satisfied, at least for now, with the answers that they have gotten from Condit during the course of three interviews.

Now, as far as the Condit team is concerned, the name of the game is damage control, and the big message from them has been that the media have been responsible for turning this into a circus and taking the focus away from the search for Chandra Levy.

His lawyer, Abbe Lowell, takes the media attack anywhere he can, even during the traditional stakeout, that he is all too familiar with.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABBE LOWELL, CONDIT ATTORNEY: Guys, this is exactly the conduct that causes us not to be talking to you guys except in the places and in the times that we are setting up. I mean, you're staking out the Condit family house. You're staking out the Condit the kids' house. And I'm not answering questions in alleyways and streets and on the way to my car.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: And while the Condit side tries to turn the debate to one of media conduct, Condit is going to have to face his fellow congressmen when he returns later this week -- his colleagues, the ones that he has repeatedly assured over the weeks he did not have a relationship with Chandra Levy. Now he's got to go there knowing that they know that he has admitted that he had.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS (R), CONNECTICUT: I took him at his word that he didn't have an affair with Chandra Levy. He, obviously, did -- at least it appears he did. And it's just an incredible lesson. You need to tell the truth, and if you don't tell the truth, then everything else you say is called into question.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: And lest we forget, there is still a search going on for Chandra Levy. She has been missing for more than nine weeks. The police are really stymied. They are going to be going, Colleen, to landfills in the area this week, with their cadaver-sniffing dogs. They insist this is just one more look. They can only hope that they don't find anything that would suggest that Chandra Levy has come to a tragic end -- Colleen.

MCEDWARDS: CNN's Bob Franken, thank you very much.

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