Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Sunday

Gary Condit Faces Trouble in Washington

Aired September 02, 2001 - 17:33   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: With congressional lawmakers returning to Capitol Hill this week, many eyes will be on Representative Gary Condit, who faces increasing scrutiny and criticism now from fellow Democrats and from constituents because of Chandra Levy's disappearance. CNN's national correspondent Bob Franken reports Condit's troubles are mounting.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As he returns to Washington, Congressman Gary Condit and his advisers are continuing to give no details about his schedule, trying very hard to avoid the cameras that showed him slipping out. By most accounts, he is considering just how long he wants to keep making these trips.

His fellow Democrats back home are among those offering not so subtle nudges toward the decision they seem to favor about his future in the House of Representatives.

ART TORRES, CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN: The signs are not very positive, not only in his district, but obviously across the nation. But the people of the 18th congressional district are going to have to come with that decision on their own, and maybe Gary may decide not to seek reelection.

FRANKEN: Over the weekend, someone threw eggs at Condit's house here in California. He will obviously avoid that in the House of Representatives, but Washington will certainly be no picnic.

House minority leader Dick Gephardt has already raised the embarrassing possibility that Congressman Condit could be stripped by his fellow Democrats of his membership on the supersensitive House Intelligence Committee. Those fellow Democrats are certainly not rallying around him.

REP. HAROLD FORD, JR. (D), TENNESSEE: There are deep, deep concerns, and Gary will have to answers those questions that I'm confident will come from the leader. The leader will have my support, as I'm sure he will have broad support within Democratic the caucus of whatever he chooses to do.

FRANKEN: And that's from someone who repeatedly calls Gary Condit a friend. Does he need enemies? Well, he definitely has them in Congress. REP. BOB BARR (R), GEORGIA: If we believe that somebody has shown themselves unworthy of maintaining a high position of sensitivity, such as service on the Intelligence Committee, then we have an absolute obligation to act.

FRANKEN: Out for a Sunday run, the parents of Chandra Levy continue the silence about Condit and relationship with their daughter that they have maintained since his media interviews. Not far away from them, Condit has spent most of his August time off in seclusion at his home, except for those interviews. Many of the supporters wish it had been all seclusion.

(on camera): Now he's returning to tumultuous Washington. As many close to him say he is pondering whether he has become a public figure who is too public.

Bob Franken, CNN, Modesto, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com