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CNN Live Sunday

Media Attention Continues to Zoom in on Congressman Condit

Aired August 05, 2001 - 17:42   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: In Washington, California Congressman Gary Condit may be out of sight, but he is not out of mind. The case of missing intern Chandra Levy and questions about her relationship with the lawmaker are still in the spotlight there. CNN's Patty Davis has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The media frenzy outside Congressman Gary Condit's Washington apartment is gone. In fact, Condit and attention he draws at committee hearings are gone too. Congress is on a month-long recess.

Condit, who police sources say has admitted having an intimate relationship with missing Washington intern Chandra Levy, gave the press the slip at the San Francisco Airport. Back in Washington, a town still obsessed with the case, Condit is out of sight, but not out of mind.

REP. DICK ARMEY (R-TX), MAJORITY LEADER: Gary is going to have to come to terms with his conscience, his family and his district.

DAVIS: Condit could find himself the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation.

REP. DAVID DREIER (R), CALIFORNIA: I suspect that the House Ethics Committee is looking at this whole situation. We have lawyers involved, there is a process through which we're going. But I will admit, I find the situation very troubling.

REP. CHARLES RANGEL (D), NEW YORK: It's in the Ethics Committee. If they decide that his conduct is such that he should have a reprimand or that he should be censured or that he should be excluded from the Congress, but so far nobody has given any evidence that any of these sanctions should be used. Embarrassment? That's what happens in life.

DAVIS (on camera): As for Levy's disappearance, D.C. police say there is no evidence she met with foul play. Therefore, they don't consider Condit or anyone else a suspect.

(voice-over): They continue to look for clues, but that too is winding down. Police cadets scouring area parks have now been replaced by joggers, after several weeks of intensive searches turned up nothing connected to the missing intern.

CHIEF CHARLES RAMSEY, D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE: You hit a point in time when you've covered just about all there's to cover, and I think we are approaching that.

DAVIS: The fact that Condit is not in Washington doesn't mean he gets a break from the press. Staked outside his house in California this weekend, the attention has now shifted to Condit's home district.

Patty Davis, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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