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Jon Karl: How Condit story plays on Capitol Hill

Jonathan Karl
CNN Congressional Correspondent Jonathan Karl  


CNN Congressional Correspondent Jonathan Karl discusses the mood on Capitol Hill as the news media continue to focus on Rep. Gary Condit and his relationship with missing former intern Chandra Levy.

Q: Have any lawmakers come to the defense of Condit? Has his support eroded since the Levy family accused him of impeding the investigation?

KARL: The vast majority of Condit's colleagues -- including some of his closest friends on Capitol Hill -- have taken a "no comment" approach to this. They neither defend Condit nor criticize him. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, is one of the few who has strongly defended him, telling CNN on Wednesday, "I know one thing for sure and that is Gary Condit did not have anything to do with the disappearance of Chandra Levy."

On the other side, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, has been more critical, calling on Condit to tell all publicly.

Q: How significant is it that Feinstein has been critical of Condit for not being more forthcoming about his relationship with Levy?

KARL: It is certainly significant: Feinstein is one of California's highest profile Democrats. She first told Condit to go public with everything a few weeks ago. Now she has made her advice public, putting more pressure on Condit.

Q: Condit apparently told House members he and Levy did not have an affair. What sort of ramifications could he face among colleagues since it now appears he and Levy did have a romantic relationship?

KARL: Democratic sources in the House tell CNN that Condit told at least 15 of his House colleagues, in one-on-one discussions, that he was not having an affair with Chandra Levy. Now even those close to Condit say he will have to work hard to restore his personal credibility among his colleagues after the intense scrutiny subsides. As Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-California, told CNN, "He's still my friend, but I certainly don't condone his behavior."

Q: Why doesn't Condit just hold a news conference and tell what he knows to the media and the public he serves?

KARL: Well, Condit's chief of staff, Mike Lynch, says Condit certainly intends to do just that, but not while the investigation is going on.

Lynch says Condit believes coming forward publicly could impede the investigation. But others close to Condit say he is not speaking out because he wants to maintain a "zone of privacy." By the way, Condit has always been a behind-the-scenes player. He's never been the kind of congressman who rushes to the TV cameras.

Q: He's obviously been a well-liked congressman, having served his district since the 1980s. What issues has he championed along the way?

KARL: Condit is extremely popular in his district and has earned a reputation as one of the most independent members of the House, frequently crossing party lines. He's long championed tax cuts and was one of the few Democrats to vote for Bush's tax cut this year. He's a fiscal conservative who has fought to restrain government spending, including agriculture subsidies, even though his district is a major agricultural area.

Condit has also championed so-called "unfunded mandates" legislation that puts limits on the regulations the federal government can impose on state and local governments.

Q: Can a lawmaker do his job under such news media scrutiny? Has he continued attending all the various meetings or has he been keeping a low profile even on the Hill?

KARL: Condit has remarkably continued to attend most of his committee hearings and show up for votes. The controversy did cause him to miss July Fourth parades back in his district and to skip a press conference Tuesday on energy policy, but he's been coming to work every day and showing up for most of his meetings.






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