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American Morning

The Search for Chandra: Is Condit's Political Support Crumbling?

Aired August 13, 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 are going to go ahead and start in Condit country. That's California's 18th Congressional District. There is fresh evidence this morning of crumbling political support for Congressman Gary Condit. Two newspapers in his district are calling for him to resign and the congressman is lashing back.

We get the latest now from our Bob Franken, who is in Washington, D.C. -- Bob, good morning.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Condit is firing back at the newspapers, one in his district, one in the neighboring area, saying that it is terribly unfair and disappointing that the "Modesto Bee," in particular, the largest newspaper, most important newspaper in his district is now calling for his resignation. The "Modesto Bee," which has consistently supported Gary Condit, released an editorial yesterday saying Gary Condit should resign.

"His behavior since Chandra Levy disappeared more than three months ago has been abhorrent." And going on, it says, "While showing little concern for the missing former intern, he has spun, stalled and stonewalled, refusing to face the media or his constituents, whose questions have been spurred, in part, by his own bizarre behavior."

Of course, Condit is now back in his district after being battered in the story of Chandra Levy, the former Washington intern. Condit admitted, according to police sources, in an interview with police investigators, that was after the third interview, that he had, in fact, had the romantic relationship with Chandra Levy that many people have discussed and his staff had denied.

Condit, in his response, said, however, "It is terribly unfair and disappointing that "The Bee" would have come to my decision without me about first -- without first allowing the investigation to continue and hearing what I have to say." Condit went on, "Nevertheless, I am hopeful that my neighbors and constituents will be more understanding of the complexities of this case and will be more respectful of the process. I can only hope that they will judge my entire record and that they will wait their judgment until they've heard what I have to say, which I plan to do very soon."

Now, he was speaking about the "Modesto Bee" editorial. A sister newspaper of the "Modesto Bee," the "Fresno Bee," owned by the same McClatchy newspaper chain, separately, we're being told, came to the same conclusion and put out its editorial saying that Condit should resign also, that Condit, as the editorial process, as the editorial said in the "Fresno Bee," Gary Condit should go.

So right now Gary Condit is in seclusion, Daryn, trying to decide what he should do with his political career, trying to decide, in fact, if he has one -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, Bob, the congressman, as he said in that response, basically said hey, you should wait until you hear what I have to say and he kind of seemed to give the idea that that was going to be very soon. Any indication of when that would be and what form that would take?

FRANKEN: Well, as you can imagine, we have a vital interest in that. There are any number of possibilities. I know his advisers were discussing some sort of speech where he would just address his constituents, perhaps some sort of interview with the local reporters in his area, the ones he would say that are, in fact, the ones who report to his constituents or, of course, something more elaborate, something on the network level.

All of those under discussion. Very soon, of course, is a very vague term and his advisers say they do not have any specifics on when very soon might be.

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

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