Friday August 24, 2001 |

MODESTO, Calif. - Rep. Gary Condit acknowledged last night that he had a "very close" relationship with former intern Chandra Levy but denied he had any role in her disappearance nearly four months ago.

Condit repeatedly refused to answer questions from ABC's Connie Chung about whether his relationship with Levy was sexual, saying only "I've been married for 34 years, and I've not been a ... a perfect man, and I've made my share of mistakes."

The interview marked Condit's first extended public comments about Levy's disappearance, and the start of a public relations offensive by the seven-term congressman.

The interview opened with a series of blunt questions about the 24-year-old woman vanishing. Condit denied he had anything to do with her disappearance, knew anyone who wanted to harm her, or had caused anyone to harm her. "Did you kill Chandra Levy?" Chung asked. "I did not," the lawmaker said.

Washington police, stymied by the lack of clues about Levy's whereabouts, have scaled back their investigation, and Police Chief Charles Ramsey has said it's possible she never will be found.

Condit was emphatic that he had cooperated with police. "I answered every question that was asked of me," he said.

Condit said he met Levy, 24, then a Bureau of Prisons intern from Modesto, in his home district, last October, and "we became very close." Asked whether they were in love, the 53-year-old married congressman said: "I don't know that she was in love with me. She never said so. And I was not in love with her."

Condit has been criticized by some of his congressional colleagues and constituents for waiting nearly four months to talk publicly about Levy. Three newspapers serving his district have called for his resignation.

Levy was last seen at a health club near her Washington apartment. Police have interviewed Condit four times, but have said repeatedly he is not a suspect and that they have no solid leads about her whereabouts.

Levy's parents, Dr. Robert and Susan Levy, planned to watch the ABC interview alone at their home in Modesto. The anguished parents have become familiar figures through television interviews and almost daily appearances in their driveway to plead for their daughter's safe return.

The interview was broadcast on the day that a letter from Condit to his constituents began arriving in mailboxes throughout his central California district.

"I hope our relationship is strong enough to endure all of this," Condit told his constituents in the letter, which was addressed, "Dear Friends and Neighbors."

Jacqeline Elrich, 33, a Modesto native, read Condit's letter yesterday on the steps of the post office. She said she hoped to hear on television what she did not find in the letter - an apology for his actions.

"I would want him to say, 'I'm sorry I didn't come forward right away with the truth. I was scared of what was going to happen with my family and with my constituents and I thought about my political career and my personal life instead of this missing woman,'" said Elrich, a political independent who has voted for Condit before but said she will not do so again.

The subject of nonstop media attention since May, Condit has been heard only through brief statements and surrogates until now. Two other women have come forward to allege affairs with Condit and to say they were pressured from the congressman or his aides not to talk to investigators looking into Levy's disappearance.

Condit has denied asking anyone to refrain from answering investigators' questions.

Condit said in his letter that he "answered every single question" he was asked by investigators. "I pray that she has not met the same fate as the other young women who have disappeared from the same neighborhood," he wrote.

Condit's only reference to his personal life was oblique. "I hope you also will understand that I am not perfect and I have made my share of mistakes," he wrote.

He also reminded constituents that he has served them for 30 years as mayor, county supervisor, state assemblyman and congressman. "Please know that you can still bring me your concerns and your problems," he wrote.