Congressman Denies Affair With Intern
A California congressman has hired a lawyer and demanded that media outlets retract news stories about the nature of his relationship with a young woman who has been missing for five weeks.
Rep. Gary Condit's relationship with Chandra Levy, 24, has come under media scrutiny since her disappearance. Police are treating the disappearance as a missing person's case, rather than a criminal matter.
The Ceres, Calif., Democrat has called Levy "a good friend," but some media reports have quoted unidentified sources as suggesting the two were "romantically involved." Condit's office has denied any romance.
Mike Lynch, Condit's chief of staff, said in a statement Thursday the congressman has hired attorney Joseph Cotchett of the San Francisco area. The lawyer has sent a letter to several media outlets seeking retractions.
"False statements, statements taken out of context and sheer innuendo and rumor have been published as fact," Lynch said. "Photos have been doctored to mislead the public."
The Washington Post reported Thursday that Condit told police that Levy had spent the night at his apartment.
The Post cited law enforcement sources who said the missing intern told a close relative she was romantically involved with Condit.
Levy has been missing since April 30th. She had just completed a federal internship in Washington and was set to return to her home in Modesto, Calif., when she vanished.
Appearing on CBS News' Early Show this week, Susan Levy, Chandra's mother, said her family has had no contact with the congressman.
"I have not been in touch with him," she said.
She also said the police have not been keeping her informed of the progress of their investigation.
"To be honest I really don't know anything. Nobody tells me nothing. Everybody seems to get information, the media seems to know everything," said Levy. "We're all grief stricken and pretty upset."
Police say they're looking at Levy's disappearance as a missing persons case, not a crime. They add that Condit isn't considered a suspect.
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