New Claim Against Condit

An airline stewardess claims she had an affair with California Congressman Gary Condit, and that he told her to lie about it when she submitted information to authorities searching for a missing former government intern.

Condit, a Democrat, is married. He admits he was friendly with the missing woman, 24-year-old Chandra Levy, but denies any romantic involvement.

Levy was last seen April 30 at a Washington health club. She was expected to return to California a few days later to graduate from the University of Southern California with a master's degree in public administration.

She had recently completed an internship with the federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington.

"He was urging me to sign it," Smith said in the interview. "He said this could be potentially embarrassing for both of us."

In a written statement, the congressman said, "I have not asked anyone to refrain from discussing this matter with authorities nor have I suggested anyone mislead authorities."

Condit's office released the text of an email to Smith's lawyer which Condit's staff says was meant to be reviewed and changed by her as necessary. The office said she refused to sign any statement, reports CBS News Correspondent Howard Arenstein.

Police investigating Levy's disappearance insist the Congressman is not a suspect. Investigators have interviewed him twice, and are now apparently trying to speak to his wife, who was in town for a visit when Levy disappeared.

Authorities are tracking the route from Levy's apartment house to nearby landfills, looking for possible evidence.

Police continue to treat Levy's disappearance as a missing person investigation rather than a crime because they have no evidence of foul play.

Levy is from Modesto, Calif., which Condit represents. The two met after she arrived in Washington last winter for her internship. Levy has a friend who used to work in Condit's congressional office.

Levy's mother, Susan, has said her daughter said she was seeing the ongressman. Condit, who is 53 and married, has denied any romantic involvement.

When police searched her apartment, they found no signs of foul play. Only her keys were missing.

Condit has hired a criminal defense lawyer and contributed $10,000 from his campaign funds to a reward to help find the missing woman.

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