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Missing Intern Probe Intensifies
By Carol Devine-Molin
July 16, 2001

Nothing is truer than the old adage "Love is blind." But for Chandra Levy, misplaced affection and trust may have led to her ultimate undoing. Under the spell of emotion and a rosy prism, Ms. Levy viewed Congressman Gary Condit as her "Harrison Ford", her prince whom she hoped to marry and have a child with in the fullness of time. Of course self-delusion and wishful thinking are hallmarks of infatuated young women. And anyone of maturity and insight could have accurately tagged Condit right off the bat as an unsavory individual. Condit is nothing more than an extremely narcissistic exploiter of women, who was on the make for some fun, sex, and an ego-massage. And from the harsh prospective of reality, he presents as shriveled and wrinkled to boot, unable to properly fill out his clothing, considerably older in appearance than his reported 53 years of age. Condit looks about sixty and notably weathered, obviously without a "Dorian Gray" portrait at home to divert from his waning looks and questionable character. Chandra Levy should have immediately tossed this slimy fish back into the pond.

It's indisputable. Congressman Gary Condit is reprehensible, unfit to serve in Congress, and should resign forthwith. This man had both a moral and fiduciary responsibility as an elected official to be fully honest and helpful in this investigation from the get-go. At the very least, he has dishonored his office, and it's certainly possible that he has done much worse. For heaven's sakes, Chandra Levy was not only one of Condit's constituents but his girlfriend as well, ostensibly a woman he cared deeply about, and he should have been leading the charge in efforts to locate her. Instead, he stonewalled for more than two months, effectively hampering the investigation by permitting the trail to grow cold, as it's apt to do subsequent to the crucial first few weeks of a reported disappearance. In fact, Condit's omissions and outright lies forced the police to waste vital time and resources to establish a pivotal fact, that he was this young woman's lover. Given the lengthy time that has now elapsed, it is inescapable that Chandra Levy has most probably fallen victim to nefarious circumstances. And Condit's actions have clearly cast him in an incriminating light to any reasonable observer.

The significance of Condit's failure to promptly acknowledge the true nature of his relationship with Chandra Levy cannot be over-emphasized. On the "Fox News Sunday" program on July 8th, former US Attorney Joseph DiGenova cogently remarked, "He (Condit) withheld that information from the police over a number of weeks. It's absolutely outrageous. It is indefensible... He should be a suspect, under all the facts and circumstances". Moreover, DiGenova was "absolutely stunned" that the police had not conducted a search of Condit's apartment immediately after Chandra Levy's disappearance, a view voiced by many others in the media. Until recently, the DC Police had been noticeably recalcitrant in properly pursuing the Levy matter, possibly fearing confrontation with a powerful Congressman. Under significant pressure, they are just beginning to hold Condit's feet to the fire. A thorough forensic search of the apartment was finally conducted during the early morning hours of July 11th, with the police leaving the scene at approximately 3am. And the Levy family's new attorney Billy Martin and his team, replete with media and investigative expertise, are clearly responsible for garnering law enforcement's newfound cooperative efforts.

Until now, Condit had successfully utilized a shameful "Clintonesque" maneuver, espousing that his "private life" was really off limits, that the police and media were unfairly scrutinizing and harassing him. He is being aided and abetted by criminal attorney, Abbe Lowell, who made the claim that the police were wasting their time with Condit, and would be better served by concentrating upon "other people... who might be helpful in providing information". Moreover, in a feeble attempt to portray Condit as being honest and forthcoming, Abbe Lowell absurdly claimed on the CNN Sunday program, "He (Condit) got it out early, he got it out truthfully, he got it out completely". Obviously, this is all about media spin, and deflecting and obfuscating the truth. The hubris on the part of Condit and his associates is significant, with these scoundrels methodically feeding the public total tripe and disinformation.

And Condit's willingness to corrupt the truth is not only demonstrated by his failure to disclose his romance with Chandra Levy in a timely manner. Condit also reportedly asked that his prior girlfriend, flight attendant Anne Marie Smith, sign a false affidavit denying their sexual affair. Ms.Smith's attorney, Jim Robinson, rightfully refused to let her sign the untruthful statement, and he has followed that up with a number of very interesting public statements while on the media circuit in recent days. Consequently, law enforcement authorities are now investigating Congressman Condit for possible obstruction of justice and suborning perjury, interviewing Ms.Smith in the process.

More intriguingly, Anne Marie Smith advised her attorney that she noted evidence of "kinky sex" by the Congressman, observing "neckties tied together underneath his bed, as if someone had been tied up in bed". Pursuant to conversations with his client, attorney Jim Robinson indicated that Condit had some "peculiar sexual fantasies", and that "she (Ms.Smith) saw other things of a sexual nature that she would have nothing to do with" (NY Post 7/10/01 article, quoting attorney Jim Robinson on the Fox News Channel). Condit was scrupulously secretive regarding his sexual liaisons, going through great lengths and ritualistic behaviors to hide these illicit activities, corroborated by statements attributed to both Anne Marie Smith and Chandra Levy (to her aunt, Linda Zamsky).

Furthermore, some very disturbing rumors are beginning to surface that cast Condit's sexuality in deeply aberrant and ominous terms, with the Congressman ostensibly leading a "double life". Whether these reports are true or pure poppycock, generated by a media feeding frenzy, must still be determined. But given concerns regarding possible "rough sex" and deviancy, it's imperative that law enforcement authorities now focus upon investigating the Congressman's sexual practices. Although Condit's representatives will inevitably scream "sensationalism" and unwarranted intrusion into his "private" life, knowledge of Condit's sexual proclivities and accompanying lifestyle may very well be instrumental in solving Chandra Levy's mysterious disappearance.

Undoubtedly, law enforcement authorities must be pondering a host of possible scenarios in this case, with pivotal questions centered upon Condit:

• In view of Condit's seeming propensity for unusual sex, including some sadomasochistic tendencies, could Chandra have been accidentally killed in an act of "rough sex" such as erotic asphyxiation?

• Could Condit have killed Chandra Levy in order to "silence" her, after she threatened to "go public" with their affair?

• Could Condit have killed Chandra Levy after he learned that she was pregnant, fearing inevitable exposure of their relationship?

Given Condit's history of being less than forthcoming, Chandra Levy's parents urged him to promptly submit to a lie detector test. Initially, Condit's attorney, Abbe Lowell, had been negotiating the ground rules and parameters of a polygraph to be conducted by law enforcement authorities. Besides the selection of an expert, developing appropriate questions is vital to the outcome of the test. But in the most manipulative and "self serving" manner, Abbe Lowell, abruptly had his client submit to a private polygraph, in efforts to circumvent any test to be rightfully administered under the auspices of law enforcement.

As noted at the Fox News website, dated 7/14/01," police scoffed at the validity of the test" paid for by Condit, since the polygraph had been accomplished without the oversight and input of authorities working on the investigation. Abbe Lowell proved to be the quintessential spinmeister at his press conference, lauding his client's cooperation and veracity as to the Levy matter. Moreover, Lowell attempted to make the case that the polygraph results exonerated Condit, demonstrating that he was truthful in response to crucial questions concerning Chandra Levy. But the acquisition of a private polygraph by Condit and his attorney Abbe Lowell speaks volumes, clearly triggering a red flag and exposing the two as schemers bent on withholding information. This, in fact, has deeply undercut Lowell's contention that Condit has been notably forthright, acting admirably in conjunction with police efforts.

Despite the lavish "positive spin" being disseminated by criminal attorney Abbe Lowell on behalf of his client, Condit's cooperation with the police has really only been marginal, at best. Yes, Condit opened up his apartment for forensic search and submitted to DNA testing before it would have been ordered anyway. But Condit withheld vital information from the police regarding his affair with Chandra Levy until his third interview. And now Condit is conspiring with his attorney to evade a polygraph administered by law enforcement authorities.

Will investigative efforts ultimately yield enough evidence to criminally convict Condit, even if he is truly blameworthy in Chandra Levy's disappearance? That remains to be seen. As this nation has already experienced, powerful men with skilled attorneys can sometimes evade the grasp of the justice system.

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