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American Morning

The Search for Chandra: Did Gary Condit Obstruct Justice?

Aired July 26, 2001 - 11:02   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.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: First, though, familiar territory, the Chandra Levy case. Big news this morning, where reports today say federal investigators want to know whether Congressman Gary Condit used his staff to obstruct justice. We have confirmed, and "USA Today" earlier says the focus on two long time Condit aides whom investigators want to know whether pressured a San Francisco woman to keep quiet about her relationship with Congressman Condit. The woman is the one who apparently gave Condit that watch case, which he is reported to have dumped in a Virginia garbage bin.

To sort all this out and bring us up to date, let's turn now to CNN's Bob Franken in Washington, who's been following this case from the start -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And this tangled Web has now entangled Joleen Argentini McKay. She is the person who worked temporarily as a staff person for Congressman Condit in 1994 and has told law enforcement sources, according to our sources, that she had a romantic relationship with Congressman Condit and has told law enforcement sources, as you pointed out, she is the one who gave the gift to Congressman Condit, the watch that Condit was later seen discarding, the case, shortly before his apartment was searched.

Now, "USA Today" reports that one of Condit's aides, Mike Dayton, who has known her for years, told her she should not talk to the police or FBI investigating the disappearance of Chandra Levy, that, in fact, she should let go of the past or "it will ruin you."

Well, we have talked with Dayton, who is Condit's Washington chief of staff, and he says, "It's absolutely not true, the charges that are outlined in "USA Today."

Meanwhile, as you can see, you just saw a live picture of Congressman Condit, who at the moment is attending an Agriculture Committee meeting as the controversy swirls outside the committee room. He's sitting next to a member of the committee who has already condemned him for bringing discredit to the Congress.

Condit, of course, has been the subject of much coverage of this ever since the disappearance of Chandra Levy and the Levy family has pushed to get his activities known to the public. They've used their attorney in Washington, Billy Martin, who a couple of weeks ago, we're told, went to the attorneys for Condit and said that Martin himself wanted to interview Condit. That was turned down as a public relations ploy. But Martin says there are many questions to ask Congressman Gary Condit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILLY MARTIN, LEVY FAMILY ATTORNEY: His actions have been suspicious and what it is he feels he has a need to hide we don't know. But beyond that, I cannot say that he is either a suspect or has more information. We simply don't know. The police have not been able to move forward to interview other potential witnesses because Congressman Condit was slow in being candid with the authorities. The police will not move on from a witness or somebody who may have information until they are convinced that that person has provided all the information that he or she may have.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: Now, there is another postscript to this very tangled story. It involves Reverend Otis Thomas. He is the Pentecostal minister out in California, in Ceres, California. He's seen here after he has returned from what law enforcement sources tell us was a scheduled interview with the FBI. But he was one who claimed that Condit, in fact, had a romantic relationship with his daughter seven years ago when she was 18. Law enforcement sources say that he no longer is saying that, that they believe he was not telling the truth. The one thing to remember is that Thomas is also a gardener for the Levy family. The Levy family has had very little to say about the charges and the withdrawal of the charge, apparently, that was done by Reverend Thomas.

It's a very tangled story and I point out we're now into about the 87th day that Chandra Levy is missing -- Daryn.

FRAZIER: Actually, Bob, it's me. Thank you very much for that update and for keeping us all straight. It's getting more and more difficult every day but we're grateful for those insights.

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