US congressman quizzed again over missing woman

A congressman who had an affair with missing intern Chandra Levy before she disappeared has been questioned by police for a fourth time, it emerged today.

Gary Condit was interviewed last night by detectives from Washington DC and FBI agents as they continued the search for the intern, who disappeared from her flat in the US capital on May 1.

The 53-year-old married congressman has admitted he was having an affair with the 24-year-old graduate from his home town of Modesto, in California, but has denied having anything to do with her disappearance.

During the interview, he was quizzed by psychological profilers from the FBI who were trying to build up a picture of Chandra in the days before she disappeared.

And today it emerged Mr Condit’s wife, Carolyn, may be interviewed again by police over the alibi which she provided for her husband.

Mrs Condit told police she was with her husband having dinner on the night Chandra disappeared but now detectives want to speak to her again about her claims.

But police denied reports they wanted to quiz her about a phone call she made to her husband’s Washington apartment which was reportedly answered by Chandra just days before she vanished, and told Fox News there was ‘‘no foundation’’ to the claims.

Mrs Condit was in Washington today, despite her marriage having been rocked by revelations about her husband’s adultery with a series of women.

The interview with the congressman was the fourth by detectives, who have also searched his home and taken a DNA sample from him.

He initially denied to police and Chandra’s parents that he was having an affair with the intern, but later admitted the relationship after the missing woman’s aunt revealed she knew of the romance.

Police are also investigating why he was driven by an aide to a suburb miles from his apartment and disposed of a watch case just hours before his home was searched.

And a series of his staff have now hired lawyers, following the lead of their boss who has retained a high-profile Washington DC lawyer.

His aides may be investigated over allegations they put other lovers of the Democratic politician under pressure to deny their relationships with him.

The legal move came as the Levy family’s lawyer, Billy Martin, revealed they may sue Mr Condit if the search for their daughter is fruitless.

‘‘It is clearly an option, and it is one that the family will consider at the appropriate time,’’ said Mr Martin.

The move would give the family the chance to ask Mr Condit questions about his relationship with their daughter in court.

‘‘We’d hope to one day be able to do that,’’ Mr Martin said.

‘‘Why would he act as though he had something to hide? We just want to figure out why he’s acting that way.

‘‘It could be that the dark side of his life is being made public and he’s an elected official. Or it could be he had something to do with Chandra’s disappearance. I don’t know what it is.’’

Police today called off a search of park land in the American capital after failing to find any trace of the missing woman but their other efforts were due to continue.

Chandra was last seen on April 30 when she cancelled her membership of a gym and was last heard from the following day in e-mails she sent to friends.

A search of her apartment revealed no evidence of foul play.

Pressure has mounted on Mr Condit to resign over his alleged failure to help the police and the revelations of his string of affairs.

Two other congressmen have accused him of bringing ‘‘discredit’’ on the House of Representatives.

And one has submitted a proposal to its ethics committee to ban congressmen from having affairs with interns.

Congressman Scott McInnis said: ‘‘Condit’s behaviour is hurting the credibility and reputation of Congress. It is especially hurting the internship programme.’’