Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Levys Hire Washington Attorney in Search for Daughter

Aired June 20, 2001 - 11:01   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The parents of missing intern Chandra Levy are back in Washington now. They're meeting with police to discuss their daughter's disappearance before returning home to California.

Our national correspondent Bob Franken joins us from Washington. He's got the latest on this one. Good morning, Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon, and that meeting has not yet been set up because while the Levys came to Washington late last night, and by the way, avoided reporters in Washington, the only time we saw them was when they were departing from the San Francisco airport, no meetings have been set up because their the newly-hired attorney that they came to Washington to meet with when they traveled from their home in Modesto, California, Billy Martin, is not in town. Martin, in fact, is out of town taking care of other business for his law firm.

Now, you might remember Billy Martin. He was the man who represented the mother of Monica Lewinsky, Marsha Lewis. You see them there after a grand jury appearance during 1998. Billy Martin gained quite a bit of prominence for that. But it is not because of his experience with intern cases -- that is not why the Levys hired him.

Billy Martin has a long experience in investigations. When he worked for the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., he headed the homicide investigation unit, and he said was that he was hired to try and find answers. The Levys are known to be dissatisfied thus far with the investigation that's been conducted into the disappearance of their daughter, 24-year-old Chandra Levy by the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI.

The Levys believe that there has not been an aggressive enough effort, and the reason, according to Martin, that he was hired was to see if he can open up some new avenues. And of course, one of the questions is will he have any questions for Congressman Gary Condit? Martin says he has no comment about that yet,

Of course. Condit accused by several of having a romantic relationship with 24-year-old Chandra Levy when she was an intern here in Washington. Condit's office has repeatedly denied that there was a romantic relationship, although the newly-hired lawyer that Condit has retained, Joe Cotchett of California, has refused to specifically address the question. So, we don't know if there is a schedule yet for the Levys. They were expected to meet with metropolitan police, but so far, that has not been set up pending the return of attorney Martin. They were expected also to try and have other meetings in town. Those have not occurred. We were expecting a news conference today by them. That will probably be delayed.

And Condit's office has said that the congressman would like to meet himself with the Levys. Thus far, the Levys have not agreed to that -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well Bob, all of the speculation that's been swirling around the story, it basically has taken its own life because Congressman Condit has not come out and said anything publicly there. Did you get any sense at all or any word from his office that something like that from him is forthcoming or has he considered the damage that has been done to him by not saying anything?

FRANKEN: Well, the congressman's office, first of all, points out that is has put out a statement saying there was no romantic relationship, that the importance here is not so much on that as it is on finding the missing former intern. The congressman's office repeatedly tells me there is no plan right now for any sort of public interview, anything like that.

A spokesman will say that the congressman does not want to commit any more to this media circus, that's the term that they use. They also point out keeping a regular schedule in Congress and back in the district. He does not normally do interviews or news conferences, they say.

But you are right, Leon, there is increasing pressure to do something public to try and dispel the damage that is occurring right now.

HARRIS: Bob Franken in Washington. Thanks, as usual. We'll Talk to you later on.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com