WASHINGTON -- Rep. Gary Condit has no reason to quit the House Intelligence Committee, his lawyer said Sunday, despite concerns by colleagues about his relationship with Chandra Levy and his actions since the former federal intern disappeared.
Condit may be the only committee member without any secrets left and he's probably the person on the Intelligence Committee who can't be blackmailed anymore,'' lawyer Abbe Lowell said on NBC's Meet the Press.''
If it's not punitive for some reason, there's no good reason'' for the California Democrat to leave the committee, Lowell said. He's served very well, as colleagues will tell you.''
House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., has criticized Condit for failing to be ``candid and forward'' in an ABC interview last week about his relationship with Levy, a Bureau of Prisons intern who disappeared four months ago.
Asked repeatedly if he had a sexual affair with Levy, Condit said only that they had a ``very close'' relationship but sidestepped questions about its nature. He offered no apologies for his involvement with Levy or his level of cooperation with police.
Gephardt characterized Condit's answers as ``disturbing and wrong,'' and said he would talk to House Democrats about possible action against Condit, including his removal from the committee.
Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Colo., said Gephardt ``has an obligation that's inherent to his responsibilities to immediately remove'' Condit.
Service on the committee requires very high integrity,'' McInnis said on CNN's Late Edition.'' ``Certainly any kind of indication that someone has not been forthcoming or truthful when put under pressure should not be in charge or sitting on the committee that oversees central intelligence and our spy networks throughout the world.''
Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., said Condit's behavior was embarrassing.'' But, Rangel said on Fox News Sunday,'' ``there's nothing that we can do in the Congress. Unless there is something to take before the Ethics Committee, I don't see how we can do anything.''
Later, on CNN, Rangel added: ``What is it that we could possibly charge him with in the Ethics Committee? Not one thing.''
Lowell asked that Gephardt consider comments Condit made in other media interviews last week before determining any possible action.
Asked by Newsweek what message he would have liked to have relayed during the ABC interview, Condit said he would have made it clear ``how disheartened and heartbroken I am that it's been four months and we haven't been able to find Chandra.''
``I would have liked to have been able to make a statement about that. The other thing was the Levys my heart goes out to the Levys. I have a tremendous amount of empathy for them.''
Condit responded to a Newsweek question about whether he was sorry by saying: ``Well, some people aren't hurt and some people are, so for the people I hurt, I'm sorry. That's how I qualify it. It's basically all I can say.''
Asked if anyone from the White House had spoken to him about the situation, the lawmaker said yes, but no advice was offered. ``A pat on the back or hang in there,'' Condit described it.
He was asked if it was because the White House view him as a potential ally in the House. ``Right. I still am,'' the conservative Democrat said.
Several Republicans have said Condit should resign from office because they said he has not fully cooperated with authorities searching for Levy.
``I think that his conduct is inappropriate and it brings discredit to the institution of the United States Congress,'' McInnis said Sunday.
Last month, Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga., requested an ethics investigation into Condit in a letter he sent to the House Committee on Standards and Official Conduct.
The evidence is more than sufficient that there has been an effort by a member of Congress to impede a lawful investigation,'' Barr said at the time. That warrants an official inquiry.''
