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Condit's letter not enough, some say©Associated Press
© St. Petersburg Times, CERES, Calif. -- Rep. Gary Condit's letter to constituents Thursday was aimed directly at people like Harlan Brock: former supporters whose enthusiasm for the Democratic congressman has wilted as the search for Chandra Levy drags on. But Brock, a 49-year-old father of three, said the letter left him wanting more. He said it did nothing to shake his belief that the congressman is hiding what he knows about the 24-year-old intern's disappearance. "I think he has more involvement than he says he has," Brock said. "If you're innocent, why do you wait so long to prove it?" Condit, 53 and married, acknowledged Thursday in an interview with ABC's Connie Chung that he had a close, five-month relationship with Levy but said he did not know what happened to her. Police say he is not a suspect in her disappearance. Condit has also been interviewed by People magazine and has interviews lined up with a Sacramento TV station, a local newspaper and Newsweek. Some of his supporters said Thursday he has told the public enough. "I don't have a need to know what Gary did with Chandra Levy. We're not voyeurs, we don't need to know," said Lucille Mejia, one of 60 supporters at a pro-Condit rally Thursday in Merced, 40 miles south of Ceres. About 15 people turned up to oppose the congressman, and 30 reporters were on hand to cover the event. Condit, who mailed more than 200,000 copies of the letter Wednesday, said he has answered every question police asked him about Levy, a federal Bureau of Prisons intern in Washington who was last seen April 30. In the letter, Condit acknowledged "my share of mistakes" but did not say whether he had an affair with Levy. The congressman admitted to an affair in an interview with investigators last month, a police source has said. Sarah Fiechtner, 19, said Condit would not get her vote next year, and that she wanted an apology. "It's his responsibility to be morally upright and not get involved in these kinds of situations," Fiechtner said. "I think it really affects his leadership abilities." Modesto Mayor Carmen Sabatino, a Democrat, said Condit should have explained his behavior in more detail. "The people want an explanation of his actions after she disappeared." Pepperdine University political scientist Stanley Moore called a letter a good idea but said Condit "should have apologized for his behavior and apologized to his district for having embarrassed them with his behavior." Pepperdine is located in Malibu, outside Condit's district. First elected in 1989, Condit has long drawn votes from Democrats as well as Republicans who appreciate his centrist positions. Few serious candidates have emerged in recent months, but Republican Luke Thompson, a 21-year-old chef, said Condit's support with GOP voters was slipping badly.
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From the Times wire desk
From the AP |
