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American Morning

Search for Chandra: D.C. Police to Conduct Second Interview With Gary Condit

Aired June 21, 2001 - 09:39   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now to Washington, where some new information on the search for missing Washington intern Chandra Levy might be coming to surface. For the latest on that investigation, we turn to CNN national correspondent Bob Franken -- Bob, good morning.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

And, as you know, Daryn, the Levys are in town, the parents of Chandra Levy, seeking new information. Meanwhile, those who have been conducting the investigation are retracing their steps.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police detectives are planning a second interview with California Democrat Gary Condit. The meeting, five weeks after police first spoke to Condit, takes place as accusations persist that the congressman had a romantic relationship with 24-year-old Chandra Levy, something that Condit's spokesman continues to deny. But D.C. police want to know more.

TERRENCE GAINER, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT D.C. POLICE CHIEF: Clearly they had some type of a relationship and it keeps shifting a little bit over time. But I do believe he and others know how she lived and what she was thinking about when she was here. Now whether that's going to directly help us to find her or not is the question.

FRANKEN: Levy, who had just completed an internship at the Bureau of Prisons, disappeared more than seven weeks ago. Washington police are also expecting to meet with Chandra Levy's parents. The Levy's are back in town to consult with their new lawyer, Billy Martin.

Martin gained national prominence when he represented Monica Lewinsky's mother, Marcia Lewis. Before he had entered private practice, Billy Martin headed the U.S. Attorney's homicide unit in Washington. He told CNN that he was hired by the Levys because of his extensive experience as an investigator. The Levys have made it clear they are not satisfied with the D.C. police effort to solve the mystery of their daughter's disappearance.

BILLY MARTIN, LEVY FAMILY ATTORNEY: Well, I hope to have a team of investigators and we hope to have a full investigation, but we'll have a statement tomorrow. Thank you. FRANKEN: The Levys plan a news conference with their new attorney. While they have been available to media in the seven weeks since Chandra's disappearance, Congressman Gary Condit has not.

QUESTION: You doing all right? You doing OK?

FRANKEN: Condit has refused to answer reporter questions about his knowledge of the case but has denied, through his spokesman, a romantic relationship.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: It's worth noting again this is not listed as a criminal investigation. There is no crime thus far that is being investigated. This is a missing person investigation. Police emphasize, Daryn, that they no indications that Condit had anything to do with the disappearance of Chandra Levy -- Daryn?

KAGAN: But Bob, isn't it possible that this could become some kind of criminal investigation even if it didn't involve Gary Condit and what would it take to go from a missing persons case into a criminal investigation?

FRANKEN: The police answer would be something equivalent to indications that there was foul play, that a crime was committed, that she was not just missing but had been somehow, had run afoul of some sort of criminal act. And the police, of course, will have to determine that based on the evidence. So far they've said they haven't taken that leap.

KAGAN: All right, Bob Franken in Washington, thank you.

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