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American Morning

Condit to Return to Washington Today

Aired September 05, 2001 - 11:10   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.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: The House is returning from its long summer break today, and there are plenty of meaty issues on the plate.

But we're going to focus on a side dish here just for a moment, Congressman Gary Condit.

CNN congressional correspondent Kate Snow is on Capitol Hill today.

Kate, has the Congressman arrived there yet.

KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We don't know that he has, Colleen. His staff has been very secretive about when in fact he was going to return exactly to Washington. We do know that he has to be in town by 6:00 Eastern Time. That's when the House takes its first votes this evening. And we've been told by Condit's staff that he will appear here by that time.

About one hour from now, though, we know that the Democratic leader Dick Gephardt is planning on speaking to reporters, not on the subject of Gary Condit, rather on one of those meaty issues you mentioned, the budget.

However,. we expect that while taking questions about the budget, Dick Gephardt will asked be about certainly about Gary Condit, and I've been told by an aide to Gephardt that he will field some of those questions as well.

But last time we heard from Dick Gephardt, you'll recall, was the day after Gary Condit did an interview on network television. At that time, Gephardt was very critical of Gary Condit, and it has followed -- others have followed suit, other Democrats who once defended Condit, very critical of him now. One of those members spoke last night to Wolf Blitzer, along with another critical Republican.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. CHARLES RANGEL (D), NEW YORK: The members would be awkward. It would be an embarrassing encounter. He has publicly displayed an unreasonable conduct that does not answer questions forthrightly, and I think people would just feel embarrassed being around him.

(END VIDEO CLIP) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. SCOTT MCINNIS (R), COLORADO: I think Gary has a -- will probably receive colder reception than when he left. I think Gary to do a lot of thought and self reflection on whether or not he's able to effectively represent his district, and frankly, Dick Gephardt Has to reflect on Gary's reappearance on Congress and whether or not he should continue to serve on the most sensitive and most highly-secret committee in the United States, the House Intelligence Committee.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: That possibility of removing Gary Condit from his seat on the House Intelligence Committee, is certainly Being discussed privately by Dick Gephardt and by others. But I am told by aides to Mr. Gephardt that they're not sure that Mr. Gephardt, the leader, would even have the power to remove Gary Condit from a committee assignment, such as that, even if he wanted to -- Colleen.

MCEDWARDS: Kate Snow, thanks very much, appreciate it.

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