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American Morning

The Deepening Mystery of Chandra Levy

Aired June 15, 2001 - 10:07   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Now an update on a story that has had Washington a-twitter in many circles, the disappearance of Chandra Levy. The 24-year-old California woman had just finished a government internship when she vanished more than six weeks ago now. But it's her connection to a hometown congressman that has the Capitol talking and her parents issuing a plea.

CNN's national correspondent Bob Franken has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The parents of Chandra Levy now say a relative told them she was told by their missing daughter she was having a romantic relationship with California Congressman Gary Condit.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Is that what she told you?

DR. LEVY: Well that's what's been told to us, yes.

FRANKEN: Reporters wanted to be sure.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: you said, Dr. Levy, a few moments ago that that's been told to us, that being that relatives told you that, in fact, Chandra had said she had a romantic relationship with Congressman Condit. Is that correct?

DR. LEVY: That?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: That the relative told you that?

DR. LEVY: Yes.

FRANKEN: Condit's office has repeatedly denied that the congressman had a romantic relationship with the 24-year old former intern. His attorney says the focus is all wrong.

JOSEPH COTCHETT, GARY CONDIT ATTORNEY: The fact of the matter is that what the news media -- some of the news media, not all of it, has taken this frenzied situation, turned it on its head and is looking now only at the relationship between a congressman and an intern when we should be devoting all our resources to finding this very fine young woman.

FRANKEN: But Chandra Levy's parents say they want the congressman to reveal what he knows.

SUSAN LEVY, CHANDRA LEVY'S MOTHER: I think what you have to do is go and ask -- and ask perhaps the person who may be involved in the relationship, if there's a relationship, what is going on. Go and ask, I think Mr. Condit or the person who's involved with my daughter, whoever, that mysterious boyfriend should step forward and talk about what's going on.

FRANKEN: A spokesman for the congressman responds that Dr. and Mrs. Levy have not called seeking information or for any reason for several weeks in spite of the fact that he gave them his number and said if you need anything call me.

Bob Franken, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KELLEY: And CNN contacted Congressman Condit's office and his chief spokesman in Washington once again denied the congressman had a romantic relationship with Levy.

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