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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

D.C. Police Search Gary Condit's Home, Looking for Clues to the Whereabouts of Chandra Levy

Aired July 11, 2001 - 20:00   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.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Tonight, what did police find in Gary Condit's apartment? And a woman who says the congressman tried to silence her about an affair, meets with federal prosecutors. As Condit faces mounting political and legal pressure, we'll get live updates from Washington and from his home district in California.

The search for missing persons has become his life's work. John Walsh, the host of "America's Most Wanted," gives us his insight into the Chandra Levy case.

Big questions raised by microscopic research. Cells from human embryos could offer hope to millions, but where do you draw the line? It's a question that now sits on the President's desk?

Good evening. I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting tonight from Washington. When was the last time D.C. police officers conducted a midnight search of a sitting U.S. congressman's apartment? And when was the last time they pressed the congressman to agree to a lie detector test? Well, that's precisely what's been going on in the nation's capital as the investigation into missing federal intern, Chandra Levy, intensifies. And that's our top story.

CNN national correspondent Bob Franken is covering the story. And he joins us now live, once again, with the latest details -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And Wolf, it gets more outlandish all the time. Witness the last 24 hours in this case of the intern and the representative from California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN (voice-over): This is what passes for normal for Gary Condit these days, leaving his apartment, swarmed by camera crews and reporters. But this scene is relatively serene compared to the dramatic late night search of Condit's apartment by Washington, D.C. forensics experts and FBI agents.

There, at the invitation of Condit and his lawyer, Abbe Lowell, searching for clues to the disappearance of Chandra Levy.

ASSISTANT CHIEF TERRANCE GAINER, D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE: As we all know from any television show or book you might read, you're interested in fibers and hairs or blood evidence or body fluids, those types of things. That's very standard things.

FRANKEN: The focus on the California congressman has intensified, particularly since last Friday night, when according to police sources, Condit admitted to investigators he did have an intimate relationship with the former Washington intern, a relationship his spokesman had denied for weeks.

Negotiations are still underway between law enforcement officials and Condit's attorney, trying to arrange for a lie detector test and DNA samples from Condit.

CHIEF CHARLES RAMSEY, D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE: We've been working with Mr. Lowell around all these different issues. We don't have specific timelines, but hopefully, we'll be able to do everything we need to do, very, very quickly and again, get these samples analyzed, take a look and review the lie detector results and move on.

FRANKEN: And in a subplot to the Condit/Levy story, former United Airlines flight attendant, Anne Marie Smith, avoided reporters as she left after meetings with lawyers from the U.S. Attorneys office of Washington. Smith charges that Condit asked her to lie in a sworn statement, about their alleged romantic relationship. Condit denies asking her to lie. Investigators want to know more.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRANKEN: And altogether, Wolf, there were two meetings, six hours worth of meetings with the U.S. Attorney and FBI agents. And they're going to continue tomorrow -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Bob, do I get a sense there's been a change in the tone of the public comments from local D.C. police from Saturday night to tonight as far as Gary Condit is concerned?

FRANKEN: Well, a lot of people are drawing that conclusion. Of course, you can't get that confirmed by the D.C. police, but they seem to be much more abrupt. They always put qualifiers when they're talking about whether he's a suspect, that type of thing. So a lot of people say, yes, there has been a difference in tone.

BLITZER: Bob Franken, once again on the scene, covering the story. Thank you very much.

Congressman Gary Condit has been a popular congressman with the folks back home for many years. And his district has been a Democratic turf for several decades, but the Chandra Levy controversy is raising new challenges.

Let's go live to Modesto, California and CNN national correspondent Martin Savidge -- Marty.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, there's no question that the constituents of the congressman are dismayed over the news that they've heard over the past few days . Are they angry enough to want to vote him out of office? Fellow Democrats say it's far too early to tell. However, Republicans seem to be saying it's plenty early to try.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE (voice-over): With nearly nonstop images of California Democratic congressman Gary Condit hurrying past cameras, Republicans are picking up their own pace. They're running.

BILL CONRAD, 18TH DISTRICT GOP CANDIDATE: Let me tell you for my Republican friends back in D.C., wake up. This is going to be a Republican district with Republican leadership with Republican values and family values.

SAVIDGE: Sensing wavering support back home over Condit's relationship with missing intern, Chandra Levy, party officials believe this could be their first chance to have a Republican represent the Modesto area since Dwight Eisenhower was president.

JIM DEMARTINI, STANISLAUS COUNTY GOP LEADER: His credibility's shot. He's been lying to the police and to his constituents for months.

SAVIDGE: Modesto city councilman, Bill Conrad, the first Republican out of the gate, lost to Condit in 1996. He denies the Condit controversy hastened his decision to run again. But other Republicans admit Conrad could've waited, privately theorying he make look more like an opportunist than a valid opponent.

DEMARTINI: Well, every candidate that runs for office has to decide which is the best time to run. I suppose this is as good a time as any. There's a lot of press here and media and a lot of attention to this and speculation. So now is a good time, but three or four months from now, would still be a good time.

SAVIDGE: Democrats say reports of Condit's political demise are greatly exaggerated.

SANDRA LUCAS, STANISLAUS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC LEADER: I don't feel he's weak. Is there a blip in the road? Yes, but he still will win this election in November of 2002.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: Democrats describe the known challenges so far as the great candidates. Even so, others suggest the battle for Condit country could be huge, attracting national interest and money.

Aides to the congressman say the reason for his success and relatively conservative territory is the fact that voters here are not necessarily interested in party affiliation. Instead, they tend to focus more on the issues, and in particular, on the candidates themselves. With controversy swirling all around Gary Condit, that is exactly what the Republicans are counting on -- Wolf.

BLITZER: So, Marty, is it safe to conclude that his grip on power in that district, which was very intense over these many years, seems to be slipping right now?

SAVIDGE: It is slipping somewhat. There has been no scientific measure by either party, at least one that they have publicly admitted to that has tried to figure out exactly what the drop in percentage points is. However, he still has a lot of power here. His opponents describe it as a lot of control. And he is supported by the very financially sound agriculture business of the 18th congressional business. Wolf?

BLITZER: Martin Savidge, thank you very much in Modesto, California. And later in our program, I'll discuss the Chandra Levy case with a leading expert on missing persons, John Walsh, the host of "America's Most Wanted."

And in other news tonight, scientists in Virginia become the first to create human embryos solely for use in stem cell research. Stem cells are immature cells that can made to mature into any type of body tissue. Scientists believe they may someday play a role in cures for conditions such as diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Previously, researchers that had usually collected stem cells from unused embryos and fertility centers, but the scientists at Eastern Virginia Medical School paid consenting egg and sperm donors.

This development comes as President Bush considers whether taxpayer dollars can be used for research on embryonic stem cells. CNN White House correspondent Major Garrett joins us now with more on that -- Major.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, senior White House aides have tried to project an image of a studious president, one who is taking opinions from all sides, one who met just last night at the Oval Office with a group of bioethicists.

But as the days leading up to a decision drag on, some prominent Republicans have privately warned the Bush White House there is a fine line between looking deliberative and looking indecisive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARRETT (voice-over): The stem cell debate has President Bush in a vice, and the political and ethical pressure is building.

SEN. TOM DASCHLE (D-SD), MAJORITY LEADER: I hope that he authorizes stem cell research. I don't think there's anything more important to research than science than the promotion of stem cell. And I believe that there is overwhelming support in the country for taking this action.

DAVID O'STEEN, NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE COMMITTEE: It's morally, ethically, and scientifically wrong to use tax funds to pay to deliberately kill human embryos for research purposes.

GARRETT: The debate has divided a White House that prides itself on speaking with one voice. One camp pushing for federal funding, another for Mr. Bush to keep his campaign promise to oppose federal support for stem cell research. The lobbying is frantic and deeply personal. Senior adviser say friends call with heart wrenching stories of loved ones whose diseases might someday be cured through stem cell research. As Mr. Bush nears a decision, questions even arise about how his personal faith will govern his decision.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The President approaches these decisions about all matters governmental on a basis of who he is and what he believes is best for the country. Who he is, is shaped by a variety of factors. And that's his background as a governor, it's his faith.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GARRETT: If Mr. Bush blocks federal funding for stem cell research, Democrats and some Republicans have already warned that they will try to overturn that legislation -- over turn that decision, rather, through legislation. And that would only prolong the White House agony over what one senior Bush adviser calls "the toughest decision of this young Bush presidency" -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And Major, very briefly, I know you spoke with Larry Lindsey, the President's chief economic adviser. What is his assessment of where the economy is moving in the immediate period ahead?

GARRETT: Wolf, the President's top economic adviser predicts maybe 1 percent GDP growth in third quarter. That's pretty low. He said maybe 2 percent in the fourth quarter. The most important news, he said, is that unemployment is going up. It's currently 4.5 percent. He said it could easily go as high as 5 percent by the late summer or early fall and maybe even higher than that. Bad news for consumers who are looking for some good news on the economy. Larry Lindsey said the only hope is that the Bush tax cut, which will begin arriving in the form of rebate checks soon, will boost that consumer spending -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Major Garrett, thank you very much at the White House.

And this footnote, President Bush is preparing to announce a new plan that will provide older Americans a break at the pharmacy counter. Starting next January, senior citizens will use discount cards that will give them a price cut of up to 30 percent on prescription drugs. The initiative, to be outlined tomorrow, does not need congressional approval.

He turned personal tragedy into a campaign for victims' rights. I'll discuss Chandra Levy and the plight of other missing persons with John Walsh, the host of "America's Most Wanted."

And police want Gary Condit to take a polygraph test, but do lie detectors really get to the truth? We'll put that question to the test. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Welcome back. His own child was kidnapped and murdered two decades ago. In the years since, he's become a crusader for victims' rights, helping to gain passage of legislation on behalf of missing children. His television program has led to hundreds of arrests.

Joining me now to discuss the search for Chandra Levy is John Walsh, who's the host of "America's Most Wanted." John, thanks for joining us.

JOHN WALSH, HOST, "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED": Glad to be here, Wolf.

BLITZER: Once again, you've spent a lot of time looking into this investigation of Chandra Levy. Give us your sense right now, where is this investigation heading?

WALSH: Well, I think it's been off track for two months. The focus on Gary Condit has been a media frenzy. And he should have been more forthcoming. When my son was abducted 20 years ago, the first thing my wife and I did was go in for the polygraph test to eliminate us for any involvement in the case. He should have been more forthcoming.

But I think through the attention and the focus of the investigation, on the wrong track. We've had two girls murdered here, one in 1998, Christine Risayan (ph), and one in 1999, Joyce Chung, who worked for the IRS. Both were interns. Both lived within about a mile and a half of Chandra Levy. Both were seen leaving their houses. Girls of accomplishment, girls that were -- their ID and their purses were found. And those cases haven't been solved.

Many serial killers murder people of the same age group. Both of these girls were close in age to Chandra Levy.

BLITZER: So what's your -- what are you saying? What's your gut instinct?

WALSH: My gut feeling is that there may be a serial killer in the Washington, D.C. area. And that all this media focus and frenzy has been a double-edged sword. Yes, it's kept Chandra Levy's face in the media. 55,000 women are listed in the FBI missing persons computer that nobody's really looking for. So that has helped.

And Gary Condit should have been more forthcoming and he should have said it right out of the gate, "I had a sexual relationship with this woman, but I didn't have anything to do with her disappearance." I think it's clouded the investigation. I think they really have to look very closely at these two young interns who looked just like Chandra Levy, who were last seen walking from places just like Chandra Levy and they're unsolved.

BLITZER: And I'm sure you put the question to the D.C. police...

WALSH: Today. BLITZER: I put the question to the assistant D.C. police chief Terrance Gainer a few weeks ago. And he insisted, as far as they can tell, they see no connection with these other cases of these missing and later killed women.

WALSH: I've heard this for years since my son was murdered. We all remember Ted Bundy was executed in the state of Florida for killing 29 women, right? Every state that he stopped in, killed 4 or 5 women, certain states. Police always said, "It's not related." They didn't want to create hysteria, etcetera. Many of those women were listed as either runaways or voluntarily missing. Then no one ever looked for them.

I think there has to be a parallel focus. There's a feeding frenzy about Gary Condit. That's one thing. Let police proceed ahead with that, but also, look at those two unsolved homicides of those two women who match the description of Chandra Levy. The circumstances were the same. They were all interns on Capitol Hill at one time. I think there may be a serial predator in the D.C. area.

BLITZER: You know, there's been a lot of criticism of the D.C. police. And they still haven't done the search of the landfills in the area. I want you to listen to what the Assistant Police Chief, Terry Gainer, said earlier today. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GAINER: We still have some sites we need to search. We still have the landfills we want to look at. We need to process some of the evidence that we've accumulated thus far. We need to continue to analyze the telephone records, the computer records we have.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Is this criticism of the D.C. police investigation justified?

WALSH: Well, I think it's easy. You know, cops are really an easy target to criticize. And a lot of times they don't want to talk to the media, to give out important information. But for example, Joyce Chung, was missing for almost two months. It was a big case here. She was an intern. She was a lawyer for the IRS and was seen walking out of a Starbucks at DuPont Circle about a mile from Chandra Levy's house. That has never been solved. It's easy to criticize the police. I still believe they should be a doing parallel investigation and that there's way too focus on Gary Condit.

Because he wasn't forthcoming, I don't really believe that he had anything to do with the disappearance. Look at Bill Clinton. He went through the same thing. He didn't murder Monica Lewinsky.

BLITZER: All right, you know, we invited our viewers to send us some questions for you. We have one question from Millie in California. She asks you this, is it true that most young women, between the ages of 16 and 40 who are initially presumed missing, are actually murder victims? WALSH: No, not necessarily. Some of them are runaways. They voluntarily run away . They disappear with a boyfriend, but they're literally been thousands and thousands of cases in the last 15 years in the United States where women have been listed as missing voluntarily or runaways that have been found murdered and their cases have not been solved.

BLITZER: Another question from Bill in New York. He asks you this: "If you think a loved-one may be missing, what is the very first thing you should do to help assure their safe return?"

WALSH: Well, the first thing you should do, because in America, anyone over the age of 18 has by law, the right to disappear, change their name or run away. You have a daughter of that age. And if she went missing, the first thing you would do would be to go to the police. And they would probably say to you, "Well, how do you know she didn't run away with a boyfriend? How do you know she wasn't on drugs?"

It's really -- I think this whole country has to take a different attitude, just like I started 20 years ago when my son was missing, and the FBI refused to get involved in the case of a 6-year-old little boy, telling me that there had to be proof of crossing a state line or a ransom note. And I said, "Nobody steals kids for ransom money. And whoever has him isn't going to tell you they're crossing a state line."

I think law enforcement and legislatures on the state level, particularly, have to really change their attitude about missing women. And truly, a lot of these women are not voluntarily missing.

BLITZER: I know your program, "America's Most Wanted," is going to focus this Saturday night on the Chandra Levy case. Have you spent some time with the family of Chandra Levy?

WALSH: We have had a reporter there yesterday. And we have an exclusive interview with them because they know that I've walked in their shoes. They know we're going to be very fair. And they know that lots of people are afraid to call the police.

We've caught 674 fugitives, 14 of the FBI's 10 most wanted, because lots of people don't want to call the cops. They know they can call "America's Most Wanted," remain anonymous. The Levy family is hurting. They're in hell right now. I went through it for the 2 weeks looking for my son. They don't know where to go, but they've given us an exclusive interview. We're going to take a very close look at this case on all sides, not just focusing on Gary Condit. And I am praying for this family that someone will have the guts on Saturday night to make that call and say, "I know something about what happened to Chandra Levy."

BLITZER: Wouldn't be the first time you got a tip like that. John Walsh, we'll be watching. Thanks again for joining us.

WALSH: Thank you, Wolf. BLITZER: Appreciate it very much. D.C. police want to give Gary Condit a lie detector test. Can a lie detector test really live up to its name? We'll go inside the process of using a polygraph. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Let's go to check on some of the day's other top stories. A forest fire is burning out of control in Washington state's north Cascades. Crews were pulled off the fire line yesterday after four firefighters were killed when they were overwhelmed by the blaze. 8,000 acres have burned. Firefighters headed back to the fire burning through 2 national forests this afternoon.

Former Senator Bob Dole was readmitted to the hospital to be treated for an infection related to heart surgery he had last month. A spokesman says Dole is in good condition and may be released from Walter Reed Army Medical Center today or tomorrow.

Software giant Microsoft may be sending a signal that it's willing to settle its anti-trust case with the government. The company says it will give computer makers more leeway in what items are on desktop versions of the Windows operating system. The changes include the option of allowing users to remove the Internet Explorer web browser from its new XP system coming out this fall.

Tonight on the "Leading Edge": De-mystifying the so-called "lie detector." Police in Washington want Congressman Gary Condit to take a lie detector or polygraph test. But experts say the machine does not really detect lies. CNN's David George explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID GEORGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For all its mystique, the polygraph is actually pretty simple. It measures just three things: respiration, circulation and perspiration.

CHUCK SLUPSKI, AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF POLYGRAPH: Is it a lie detector? By now, we all know that answer is simply 'no.'

GEORGE: Chuck Slupski runs one of the one dozen U.S. polygraph schools accredited by the American Polygraph Association. Law enforcement officers come from across the country to take Slupski's 400 hour course. Less than 10 percent of it is devoted to the polygraph instrument itself.

SLUPSKI: It's not that difficult to learn how to use the equipment to record the body. The more complicated part of the process is the psychological preparation of the examinee to take the test.

GEORGE: Slupski students learn they must spend at least an hour and often longer preparing a subject for an exam. Every question is gone over in advance. Contrary to popular belief, there are no surprises on a polygraph exam. POLYGRAPH EXAMINER: There will be no other questions that will be asked but what I told you. That's a promise from me to you.

GEORGE: Some questions are so-called control questions, designed to establish a baseline.

POLYGRAPH EXAMINER: Is this the month of June?

TESTER: Yes.

GEORGE: Others are called relevant questions for obvious reasons.

POLYGRAPH EXAMINER: Did you steal that vehicle from that garage?

TESTER: No.

SLUPSKI: If I had to give a percentage to, then I would say it's about 90 percent psychology.

GEORGE: That means the polygraph device itself is the smallest part of the equation. Experts say the result depends mostly on the skill and integrity of the man or woman giving the polygraph exam. David George, CNN, Atlanta.

BLITZER: And up next, I'll open our mailbag. Are we going overboard in our coverage of the Chandra Levy case? Many of you weigh in. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. Time now to open our mailbag. We continue to be hammered for our coverage of the Chandra Levy case. Connie writes this from Wyndham, Minnesota: "Wolf, it is time for you and the rest of the media to quit beating a dead horse to death. Let the proper authorities pursue the Levy/Condit case." Dan in Santa Barbara, California: "Yes, it's a big story. Cover it completely. The trouble is CNN's overcoverage is shortchanging the rest of the news." Jane in New York: "There are some of us out here who want real news about the issues, not just salacious stories."

But there is another side. Nancy writes this from Venice, Florida: "Wolf, continue the coverage of the Chandra Levy case. Much too much violence against women is being overlooked. The numbers of missing women are staggering."

Remember, I want to hear from you. Please e-mail me at Wolf@cnn.com. Or go to my Web site cnn.com/Wolf. And while you're there, you can e-mail your questions for tomorrow night's guest, the D.C. Assistant Police Chief, Terrance Gainer. That's cnn.com/Wolf.

Please stay with CNN throughout the night. Mariel Hemingway is Larry King's guest at the top of the hour. Up next, Greta Van Susteren. She's standing by to tell us what she has -- Greta.

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, HOST, CNN'S "THE POINT": Wolf, Jim Robinson joins us today. His client talked to federal prosecutors here to see Anne Marie Smith, the flight attendant. Plus, we're going to talk to a former homicide detective in the District of Columbia, to find out what were they looking for when they went through Condit's apartment -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Excellent, Greta. We'll be watching. Tomorrow night, I'll speak with the D.C. police chief, Terrance Gainer. Of course, until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "THE POINT WITH GRETA VAN SUSTEREN" begins right now.

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