From CNN

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

Answers

I heard on the news this morning that he was sending a letter out to his constituents. This probably really is it. Blech!

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

Looks like his stationery. As if I've ever seen it.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

I got it from the CNN site, "so it must be true." Scoop for CNN. here's what seems to be a second source confirmation.

NYDailyNews

Condit's in High Gear Now talkative, but still avoids key questions

By HELEN KENNEDY Daily News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON ep. Gary Condit launches his carefully orchestrated media blitz today — but he is still sidestepping key questions.

Ahead of tonight's much-anticipated network interview, Condit posed grimly Tuesday night with his wife, Carolyn, for the cover of People magazine. It's the first time she has been seen at his side since before Condit's mistress Chandra Levy disappeared May 1.

Under the banner "Gary Condit Talks," the People cover describes the California Democrat's interview as "blunt one moment, ducking tough questions the next." A publishing source described him as nervous, stiff and guarded.

After 3 1/2 months of silence that baffled his supporters and infuriated his critics, the congressman is going public with a bang.

He sent thousands of letters to constituents and plans interviews with Newsweek and TV and print reporters in California — though sources say he will stiff The Modesto Bee, his hometown paper, which called for his resignation 10 days ago.

The media campaign is being staged by Condit in a desperate bid to salvage his reputation and regain what he lost in May: Control over his own image.

"His primary concern is to express his personal pain with what has occurred and, secondarily, to correct the record," spokeswoman Marina Ein said.

Condit's 200,000 constituent letters were timed to arrive this morning as the opening volley of his media barrage.

He reportedly chafed under advice that he apologize for his affair with the missing intern and his reluctance to come clean with police. There were some indications that aides might be distancing themselves from the letter's final text.

MSNBC reported last night that NBC News learned from a source close to Condit that the letter opens with an expression of concern for Levy before explaining what happened when her parents first called him in May and outlining his cooperation with investigators.

CNBC's Geraldo Rivera reported that in addition to asking for his constituents' "patience and understanding," Condit criticizes the "tabloid nature" of the media's coverage, calling it a "feeding frenzy."

The congressional post office would not pick up the tab for the mailing, so it was paid for out of campaign funds.

Condit, whose golden boy image has been badly tarnished by his behavior since his 24-year-old mistress vanished, is gearing up to run for another term in Congress next year.

Whether he has a realistic shot will depend on his performance tonight. Millions are expected to tune in to weigh his answers, as if the 30-minute interview were a national lie-detector test.

Among those watching closely will be police detectives and Levy's parents. Democratic Party officials may largely base their decision on whether to fund his run on how he does, according to a top party strategist.

Condit lawyer Abbe Lowell will face off against Levy family lawyer Billy Martin on ABC's "Nightline" following the Connie Chung interview, which will air at 10 p.m.

After his People interview in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night, Condit, his wife, Lowell and five others dined at La Cachette, an upscale restaurant in Los Angeles.

They sat in a side room at the restaurant, which features Franco-Californian concoctions like napoleon of fois gras with huckleberry sauce. "It was an intense conversation," said chef-owner Jean Francois Meteigner. "They were not jumping on the tables."

NYDaily News

Cable All Over Condit

Cable's all-news channels missed out on a shot to interview Rep. Gary Condit (D.-Calif.) — that interview went to ABC's Connie Chung and airs on tonight's "PrimeTime Thursday" — but that won't stop them from talking about it.

As previously reported, Chung will tape the interview today to air tonight at 10 p.m., where she'll question him about his relationship with missing Washington, D.C., intern Chandra Levy.

Then, when ABC stops, the cable anchors will start.

After "PrimeTime" signs off at 11 p.m., cable's Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly will sign on for a live edition of his show, "The O'Reilly Factor."

At midnight, FNC co-hosts Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes will follow up by talking with guests Lisa DePaulo of "Talk" magazine and Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R.-Ariz.), among others.

At MSNBC, legal correspondent Dan Abrams will weigh in on Condit's remarks starting at 11 p.m. and CNN's newscaster Bill Hemmer will head up a half-hour discussion, "Condit Speaks: The Reaction" at 11 p.m.

Then, at 11:35 p.m., ABC's "Nightline" host Ted Koppel will gather reaction from Levy family attorney Billy Martin and from Condit's attorney, Abbe Lowell.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

NYPost

PICTURE OF A HAPPY COUPLE

By NILES LATHEM

August 23, 2001 -- WASHINGTON - Embattled U.S. Rep. Gary Condit breaks his 115-day silence today, launching a high-stakes media blitz aimed at saving his career - and marriage - after the mysterious disappearance of Chandra Levy.

Emerging from three weeks in seclusion, Condit and his wife, Carolyn, posed for a photo on the cover of People magazine looking strained, unsmiling and unhappy.

The picture, which was released last night, was a stark symbol of the difficulties the California Democrat faces in his uphill struggle to recapture credibility on Capitol Hill and with voters in his Modesto district.

The pressure on Condit escalates tonight, when he sits down for a make-or-break 30-minute interview with Connie Chung on ABC's "PrimeTime Thursday."

Condit will also do interviews with a television station tonight in his home district, as well as with Newsweek and a California newspaper.

He also plans to send out 180,000 letters - which should arrive in constituents' mailboxes today - possibly discussing some of the embarrassing details of his romantic relationship with Chandra, 24, who has been missing since May 1st.

"His primary concern is to express his personal pain with what has occurred, and, secondarily, to correct the record," said Marina Ein, a Condit spokeswoman.

Billy Martin, a lawyer for Levy's anguished parents, said the family will be watching Condit's appearances closely in hopes that he will reveal new information about what may have happened to their daughter.

But Condit, who has been practicing for the media interviews with advisers for several days, is likely to disappoint them.

People magazine - which interviewed Condit with his wife and two grown children, Chad and Cadee, earlier this week in Beverly Hills - says in a headline on its cover story that Condit "ducked" many questions. The full People interview will be released tomorrow.

Condit was said to have battled with his advisers down to the wire on whether he should apologize in his letter to constituents, both for his personal conduct and for stonewalling cops.

The under-fire pol didn't admit until his third interview with investigators that he had an affair with Chandra, sources have said.

Sources told The Post last night that Condit rejected several drafts proposed by aides that contained apologies for his behavior.

"There was a major debate about how and to what extent there should be an apology and whether there should be an apology at all. He was reluctant to do it," said one of Condit's political associates.

The outcome of the debate was not known last night. Condit's aides refused to release the letter until voters had received it.

The mass mailing, which is expected to cost about $100,000, will be paid out of Condit's campaign war chest.

Sources told The Post that Condit's office had tried to force taxpayers to foot the bill for the mailing, through funds allotted to House members to communicate with voters in their districts.

But congressional officers stepped in earlier this week and declined to allow the mailing to be paid for by the House, on the grounds that the issue had nothing to do with congressional business.

The once-popular Condit is down in the polls, and three newspapers in his district have called for his resignation.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

"But congressional officers stepped in earlier this week and declined to allow the mailing to be paid for by the House, on the grounds that the issue had nothing to do with congressional business."

I doubt there's a single letter that goes out under congressional postage that has any real goal other than re-election.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

Oh Boy... I am so glad this sick piece of crap doesn't live in my state.

Let's take a little look-see here.

As to answering every single question the police have asked.... why did it take three interviews before he admitted the affair? That's a lot of help.

Dedicated to his family... that makes me want to ROTFLMAO. If he was so dedicated, how come so many other women have come forward talking about their affairs? If that is the kind of commitment/dedicaiton that I expect of my husband, why the heck have a husband? My husband would be to scared to do that! (And for good reason)

As to people coming to him with their personal problems, my guess is if they were female, he'd say let's hop in the sack and I'll help ease your stress.

What a pile of crap!

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

As for congressional mailings, all the postage needed is their signature in the corner where the stamp goes. Essentially it's free.

I'm glad they didn't allow him to use that, since it is a personal letter, and not government business as they say.

I get a letter from my rep, and occasionally the senator, ever couple of months. the rep's is like a newsletter, and let's us know what she has been doing on our behalf. Can't remember what the senator said.

I haven't seen anything done by the rep that actually help me, btw. I didn't vote for her, either.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

It obviously is not congressional business and he knows that but he tried to slide it by anyway.

You can see why: his salary is about $145,000 or so and, from what Fox says, he has no assets, no holdings, no other source of income. If he resigns, he gets "only" $30,000/year from his Congressional pension. This mail-out was $100,000 and that's a chunk from his campaign chest he could have put to some better use.

Fox wondered how he was able to run two households, several mistresses and expensive lawyers on that kind of limited income.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/235/nation/Chronology_in_disappearance _of:.shtml

Chronology in disappearance of Chandra Levy

By Associated Press, 8/23/2001 15:12

A chronology of events in the disappearance of Chandra Levy, 24, of Modesto, Calif., a former U.S. Bureau of Prisons intern:

April 30: Levy is last seen at a health club near her apartment in Washington, D.C.

May 1: Levy spends much of the morning surfing the Internet, logging off at 1 p.m. It is the last trace of her, police say.

May 6: Unable to reach their daughter, Dr. Robert and Susan Levy call Washington police to report her missing. They also call their congressman, Rep. Gary Condit, D-Calif.

May 9: Police interview Condit in his Washington apartment.

May 10: Condit contributes $10,000 to a reward fund and issues statement calling Levy a ''great person and good friend.'' A search of Levy's apartment finds no sign of foul play.

May 16: Several news organizations obtain an e-mail, written by Levy in December, in which she talks about an unnamed romantic interest with ties to Congress. Condit aides deny their boss had an affair with Levy.

June 21: Susan Levy and Condit, accompanied by lawyers, meet in a Washington hotel.

June 23: Police interview Condit a second time.

July 2: Flight attendant Anne Marie Smith alleges Condit asked her to sign a declaration denying what she described as a 10-month affair. She also says Condit encouraged her not to talk to investigators looking into Levy's disappearance. Condit denies asking anyone not to cooperate, but does not dispute the affair.

July 6: Levy's aunt, Linda Zamsky, issues a statement saying Levy told her about an affair with Condit. Later that day, Condit submits to a third police interview during which a source says he admits to a romantic relationship with Levy.

July 10: Police and the FBI search Condit's Washington apartment, with his consent.

July 12: Federal prosecutors say they are investigating whether Condit impeded the search for Levy. Condit takes a lie detector test arranged by his lawyer, Abbe Lowell. Lowell later announces the test found Condit was honest when he said he had nothing to do with Levy's disappearance.

July 26: Condit submits to a fourth interview with investigators.

Aug. 3: Congress begin summer recess, Condit flies home to Ceres, Calif.

Aug. 12: The Modesto Bee, the largest paper in Condit's district, and its sister paper, The Fresno Bee, urge Condit to resign, saying he has violated the public trust by remaining silent about Levy's disappearance. Condit issues statement saying he has cooperated with police and will talk publicly ''very soon.''

Aug. 15: Condit's spokeswoman says annual ''Condit Country'' fund- raiser will go on as scheduled in October and reiterates Condit's plan to seek re-election.

Aug. 21: Condit gives first media interview to People magazine for issue that goes on newsstands Friday.

Aug. 23: Condit scheduled to appear on ABC to answer questions about Levy.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001