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CNN Live Event/Special

Levy Parents Speak to the Press

Aired August 17, 2001 - 12:21   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go out to Modesto, California, where Chandra Levy parents are speaking to the press again.

DR. ROBERT LEVY, CHANDRA'S FATHER: ... local radio stations to give our appreciation, thanks to everyone around our city and in California for their help and support and prayers and trying to find Chandra. Really appreciate it. We appreciate the TV news media and the print media, too.

SUSAN LEVY, CHANDRA'S MOTHER: Right.

QUESTION: Anything new this morning in the investigation? Anything you're hearing from Washington?

R. LEVY: We haven't talked with him recently. But we know they're actively digging to some issues, which, you know, it's under investigation now and we really don't want to -- can't really talk about that. But you know, we know they're working hard on it.

QUESTION: Doctor, you said this on the radio. And for our audience, can you talk about how you were able to stay focused in your work?

R. LEVY: Yes. It's a -- you do that with any kind of job, you know, medicine or law enforcement. You go to work and you take care of what you have to there. You're concerned and want to take care of the patients and I know them and I know what's going on and, you know, keep up with literature, so I'm able to focus on them.

Chandra is always in our minds and the family's minds, but the office staff the patients all are similar and concerned. So you know, we -- they say they're supporting me and then we go on to other issues, talking about what's going on with them. So it's been possible to do that. I've been back to work now two and a half months. And it's been helpful, really helpful for me to be back at work and among my colleagues and patients and staff. And hopefully I've been helpful again in taking care of their problems.

QUESTION: If the person or the people that know where your daughter is are watching you right now, and they may be, what would you want to say to them?

S. LEVY: I say that every morning you get up and you brush your teeth and you wash your face, you look at yourself in the mirror and you have to live with yourself. And that consciously, that hopefully that particular person would come out and share what they know.

R. LEVY: Please come out and help relieve our suffering and, you know, just tell the truth and help us find resolution. We hope -- we hope resolution to find Chandra alive. But, you know, we appreciate if people would come out and give information they have that help us reach that goal. Help us have resolution.

QUESTION: My last question for you. There's a quote in "The Modesto Bee" this morning from a congressman from Pennsylvania, Democrat Mike Doyle, speaking about Gary Condit, says the following, and I quote -- "It might be in best interests of his constituents that they be represented by someone else," end quote.

What are you thoughts about that?

R. LEVY: Well, that's -- that's, you know -- that's a courageous stand and everyone has their opinion about it. And certainly, you know, information is out there that, you know -- that's a situation. We just appreciate everyone's support. And as far as Condit's political career, well, you know, it's -- he's doing whatever he has to do in his own interest. He's doing whatever he has to do, so you know, that's apparent.

QUESTION: If he were to call on the two of you, would you talk to him? Would you meet with him?

R. LEVY: We don't know. We just don't know.

You know, we had the opportunity before and the truth didn't come out. And we don't know if that would be beneficial, just to go over the same -- same things that he said before.

QUESTION: He's been back in this district now for a couple of weeks. He has said that he will speak to his constituents. Are you disappointed or surprised that he hasn't done so yet?

R. LEVY: I don't really want to comment on that. It's, you know -- thank you.

HARRIS: And with that, Chandra Levy's parents wrap up their comments to the press this morning. And they're just returning from a radio interview they did just a short time ago with a local station. And we'll continue to follow that story, of course, and bring you any developments as we have them.

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