-Caveat Lector- <http://www.rollcall.com/pages/news/00/2001/07/news0719d.html> July 19, 2001 Condit Denies Obstruction, Says He Won't Step Down By John Bresnahan and Damon Chappie With the furor over missing Washington intern Chandra Levy continuing to swirl around him, Rep. Gary Condit (D-Calif.) has been quietly telling his colleagues that he has no intention of resigning. Condit initiated a brief meeting Tuesday with Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), who has been publicly critical of the California Democrat, and declared that he is not leaving Capitol Hill. Armey refused to comment on what he and his colleague talked about, but Condit later told Members on the floor that he told the Majority Leader he does not foresee himself handing in his resignation. "He is telling Members that he is not planning on going anywhere," said a senior Democratic staffer. Condit is also insisting to his colleagues that he has not obstructed the Metropolitan Police investigation into the whereabouts of Levy, despite the fact that he did not tell investigators that he was romantically involved with the 24-year-old until his third interview with them. "He's saying that he is just looking for fairness," said one Democratic aide. "He's just looking for a fair shake from the police, not for any special treatment." However, several senior Democratic staffers now say Members are privately grumbling that Condit has become a distraction for the party and that he should think about resigning. "Members are saying that's what he should do," said one top Democratic aide. "They wish he would, but it's not like anybody is saying that directly to him. It's still his decision." Nevertheless, Condit has also been getting some help from unexpected quarters. Rep. Max Sandlin (D-Texas), a former trial attorney, has been speaking to other Members on the embattled lawmaker's behalf. Sandlin has been cautioning Democrats not to assume that Condit's legal position is untenable. He has also been publicly telling all who will listen that Condit seems OK physically and is not breaking down under the intense media scrutiny. "[Sandlin] is just saying that we shouldn't judge Condit when the chief of police, Chief [Charles] Ramsey, is saying he's not a suspect," Danielle Allen, Sandlin's communications director, said. "There's no reason for us to jump the gun or something." Even as Condit tries to publicly maintain a business-as-usual demeanor, some of his colleagues acknowledge that they can easily see the toll this is taking on the 53-year-old Congressman. "I don't think he looks good," Rep. Ralph Hall (D-Texas) said Tuesday afternoon after emerging from the House floor, where he had been engaged in a lengthy conversation with Condit and Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.). "He looks like he's going through what he's going through," continued Hall. "I don't even know how he lives, the pressure he's been under." As for Condit, Hall argued that if the case remains unresolved, "a stigma will be attached to [Condit] for the rest of his life." Hall said in their conversation that the longtime California Congressman had spoken only of the patient's bill of rights. "If he wants to volunteer something he could. I wouldn't push him," said Hall, who does not believe Condit should resign. Hall declined to say whether he thought the intense press coverage of Condit was fair or not, but did say that he thought the media would be best served if they took another tact. "I think they ought to be looking for that girl," Hall said. Levy was last seen April 30, and the continuing mystery over what happened to the intern as well as details over her relationship with Condit have sparked a media stampede unseen on Capitol Hill since the impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton. After protesters appeared outside his Modesto office this week and started calling for him to leave Congress, Condit's office issued a defiant statement declaring that he would not bow to "special interests" seeking to swing the seat to Republicans. On Wednesday, Condit supporters rallied in support of the beleaguered seven-term Member. Condit's attorney, Abbe Lowell, has publicly declared that his client has decided to run for re-election next year. Followed by reporters as he left a committee hearing Tuesday, Condit mostly ignored their questions about the Levy case. "What attention?" he shot back when one scribe asked how he was managing to get his work done amid all the controversy. Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (Miss.) and Rep. Bob Barr (Ga.) have blasted Condit for his alleged affair with Levy and his handling of the subsequent police investigation of her disappearance. And both lawmakers have called for Condit's resignation. As he finds himself plagued with questions about the Levy case, other Members of Congress have found themselves dogged by questions about Condit. James Robinson, the attorney for United Airlines flight attendant Anne Marie Smith, has said that Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) were on the flight during which Smith first became acquainted with Condit. Smith alleged that she and Condit carried on a yearlong affair that ended several months ago. She also contends that Condit attempted to have her sign a false affidavit declaring that she had not been romantically involved with him - an accusation that Condit has denied. Robinson told Roll Call that both Feinstein and Boxer were on the plane the day that Condit first met his client. "They were sitting a couple of rows away, they were within earshot. They could have heard what he said," Robinson said in a telephone interview. "They would have been aware of him passing her his phone number," Robinson added. Smith told prosecutors investigating potential obstruction of justice charges against Condit that Feinstein and Boxer were on the same plane, according to Robinsion. On the day last year that Condit met Smith, the three lawmakers were flying in the business-class section of the aircraft, Robinson said. Robinson added that he wanted to know how many times in the past Boxer and Feinstein have witnessed attempts by Condit to pick up women during frequent cross-country trips. He also said he has learned that Condit used his frequent-flier miles to purchase airline tickets for Levy and claimed the pair may have traveled together between Washington and California. "Did any Member of the California delegation ever see him on the plane with Chandra Levy?" Robinson asked. Levy's aunt, Linda Zamsky, said in a previous statement that her niece flew to California last November and December and that Condit may have provided the tickets for those trips. Unlike the Senate and federal agencies, the House allows lawmakers and staff to use frequent-flier miles accumulated on trips paid for with official taxpayer-provided funds for personal benefit. Members and staffers are not required to account for how they dispose of those miles. Many House lawmakers use the mileage to take vacations or provide travel for spouses and family members. Sporadic efforts to close the loophole for House Members and to adopt bans that are in place in the Senate and federal agencies have met with fierce resistance from leaders of both parties over the years. Boxer spokesman David Sandretti said his boss does not recall the flight and that she has not been contacted by or spoken to authorities about it. A spokesman for Feinstein also said the Senator's office had received no calls from authorities about the matter. Boxer, who last week called on Condit to cooperate with authorities regarding the Levy investigation, has been doing whatever she can to help the Levy family find their daughter. Visitors to Boxer's official Senate Web site will note that a pop-up box containing a photo of Chandra Levy and the headline "MISSING" appears on their computer screen. The box contains two phone numbers for anyone who might have information about Levy's whereabouts. Amy Keller contributed to this report. ================================================================ Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: *Michael Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends ================================================================ <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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