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American Morning

Chandra Levy Relative Provides Details Regarding Alleged Affair

Aired July 06, 2001 - 09:01   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to start with the latest on Chandra Levy and the latest information in that investigation of the missing intern. A relative of Chandra Levy's provides new details about Levy's alleged affair with a California congressman. Also, District of Columbia police and the FBI interviewed Congressman Gary Condit's wife about Levy's disappearance. And Abbe Lowell, Condit's attorney, blasts the news media for its coverage of the story.

Our national correspondent Bob Franken still following the story for us and he joins us from Washington -- Bob, good morning.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

Let's talk about the aunt first. Linda Zamsky, who lives a couple of hour's drive from Washington in Maryland, not far from Washington, as I mentioned. CNN has spoken with her and confirmed an account she has given to the "Washington Post" in which she says that Chandra Levy, the missing intern, the former Washington intern who has been gone out of sight for nine weeks now, told her that she was having an affair with Congressman Gary Condit.

Congressman Condit has repeatedly, through spokesmen, up until now denied that there was a romantic relationship. But Linda Zamsky told the "Washington Post" that, in fact, Chandra Levy told her, first of all, accidentally that it was Congressman Gary Condit but then she went on to describe weekends spent at the Condit apartment, saying it was a secretive relationship.

But then came the time when Chandra Levy's internship was over and it was time to go back. And here's what Linda Zamsky says she told about a phone call that she got from Chandra Levy. "Hi, Linda. This is Chandra. My internship is over," Levy said in the phone message. "I'm planning on packing my bags in the next week or 10 days, heading home for a while. Don't know what I'm going to do this summer and I really have some big news. There's something important to tell. So call me."

Now, the police are very interested in what that big news was, trying to find out if whatever it was contributed in any way to the disappearance of Chandra Levy. As a pursuit of investigation, they had an interview yesterday with the wife of Congressman Condit. Carolyn Condit was interviewed in an FBI field office in suburban Virginia. That's a suburban part of Washington. Carolyn Condit came here with her husband, Congressman Gary Condit, secretly after they skipped out on the parades, July 4 parades in the Modesto area. Congressman Condit's wife Carolyn was interviewed by the FBI. Very few details about that interview, although police say they were interested in the period of time when Carolyn Condit was apparently in Washington, which coincides with the period of time when Chandra Levy has disappeared -- Daryn?

KAGAN: Meanwhile, Abbe Lowell, Congressman Condit's attorney, has come out and he is not happy at all about the way the news media has been handling the story, is he, Bob?

FRANKEN: In his statement in which he's -- he confirms the interview with Carolyn Condit, he also criticizes the media, saying there has been a total preoccupation with the private life of Gary Condit and that the emphasis is all wrong. The media should refocus, he says, and concentrate on trying to help in the search for Chandra Levy.

KAGAN: Bob Franken, I'm sure we'll be hearing from you throughout the morning on the story. Thank you.

And in case you're wondering what the reaction is to this story in Levy's hometown, we'll be talking with the Washington reporter for "The Modesto Bee" just ahead in this hour.

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