FBI, Police Interview Condit

ByABC News
July 27, 2001, 7:26 AM

W A S H I N G T O N, July 27 -- FBI profilers joined police for the first time Thursday night in questioning Rep. Gary Condit about missing intern Chandra Levy.

Brad Garrett and Melissa Thomas, top FBI agents who have joined the team investigating Levy's disappearance, were hoping Condit could help fill out a victimization profile of the missing intern. Sources close to Condit say the agents asked most of the questions, which focused on Levy's lifestyle, habits and moods. Agents were particularly interested in whether Levy had ever mentioned other people paying close attention to her.

During an earlier interview with police, sources say, the married Condit, 53, had acknowledged having an affair with Levy, 24. Detectives called this fourth session, in part, to clarify his timeline of movements on and around May 1, the last day she is accounted for.

Condit's attorney, Abbe Lowell, hosted the interview at his office in downtown Washington. Each side offered differing lengths for the meeting. Police said it was less than an hour. Condit's spokeswoman said it was 90 minutes.

"Congressman Condit answered every question and provided all the information and opinions that he had," spokeswoman Marina Ein said in a prepared statement e-mailed around this afternoon. "Congressman Condit hopes that this meeting — along with other important FBI and police efforts — will help law enforcement authorities find Chandra Levy."

Washington Police Chief Charles Ramsey said it was too early to characterize, as detectives were still evaluating the congressman's responses. Ramsey said it was possible police may need to interview Condit again.

This fourth interview with police comes a day after Condit's top aide in Washington denied urging a former colleague to lie to FBI agents about her relationship with the congressman.

USA Today quoted former Condit staffer Joleen McKay as claiming that Mike Dayton, the congressman's senior staffer on Capitol Hill, had urged her to "leave [the affair] in the past or it will ruin you."