Condit breaks months of media silence

Gary Condit broke his media silence yesterday, four months after the disappearance of Chandra Levy, the Washington intern with whom the congressman was having an extramarital affair.

It was an attempt to repair his shattered political reputation and offer a heavily spin-doctored version of his side of the story.

Ahead of a long-awaited television interview due to be broadcast late last night, Mr Condit wrote a letter to his constituents in Central Valley, California, admitting he had made "mistakes" but insisting he had no idea what had happened to Ms Levy, who was last seen cancelling a gym membership in Washington on 30 April.

Mr Condit wrote: "Some suggest that not talking with the media could mean I had something to do with Chandra's disappearance. I did not. I pray that she has not met the same fate as the other young women who have disappeared from the same neighborhood."

The letter made no reference to his affair, or his reluctance to admit it to police until he had been interviewed for a third time.

Making no mention of demands by newspapers in his district that he resign, Mr Condit said instead he hoped constituents would still come to him with their problems. "You know me to be hard working, committed to our issues and dedicated to my community and my family," he said. "I hope you also will understand that I am not perfect and have made my share of mistakes."

The letter was the first blow of a public relations blitz that was also to include interviews with Newsweek, People magazine and ABC television. The television interview, in particular, promised to be a media circus with pundits and commentators preparing to analyse every word.

Mr Condit is not, though, willing to discuss his indiscretions and is more interested in making sure he will be allowed to fight for re-election to the House of Representatives next year.

He accused the tabloid media of turning Ms Levy's disappearance into a "spectacle" and reporting rumours as fact. And he rejected the notion that he has been silent on the affair – saying he has been silent only in the media. "I have answered every question asked by the police and FBI," he said.

Mr Condit, a conservative Democrat who has not lost an election in his 30-year career, is not considered a suspect in the Levy case. But the young woman's parents accuse him of obstructing the investigation and being less than forthcoming about his relationship with their daughter.

They have also found another alleged girlfriend who says Mr Condit tried to make her sign an affidavit falsely denying their relationship – an accusation Mr Condit has yet to address in public.