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The wife of Rep. Gary Condit was questioned by law enforcement officers Thursday in the disappearance of former federal intern Chandra Levy, according to the congressman’s lawyer. 

Carolyn Condit and the investigators met in the Washington area, said a statement from the congressman’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell. 

The statement did not reveal anything that was said and indicated that Condit, D-Calif., will continue his public silence about Levy, whom he has described as a “great person and a good friend.” 

“The congressman hopes and believes that the caring public will not confuse his well-founded reasons for not fueling a misguided media frenzy with his continued willingness to speak with those professionals who are working day and night to find Chandra Levy,” the statement said. 

It also said Condit will “resist efforts by the media to dissect and mischaracterize his and his family’s private lives.” 

“Unlike some, Congressman Condit remains singularly focused on what is the central mission at this time – locating Chandra Levy,” Lowell said, reading the statement. 

Levy, 24, of Modesto, Calif., was last seen April 30 at a Washington health club. Her internship at the U.S. Bureau of Prisons had ended and she was planning to return home to attend her graduation ceremony at the University of Southern California. 

Condit’s office has denied a romantic relationship between Levy and the 53-year-old married congressman, who has represented her hometown since 1989. Levy’s mother has said her daughter told her she was seeing Condit. 

Law enforcement officials have given no indication why they wanted to question Mrs. Condit other than their repeated statements that they wanted to talk to anyone who might shed light on the case. Mrs. Condit was on a rare trip to Washington during the time when Levy disappeared, according to Mike Lynch, Condit’s chief of staff. 

Police Chief Charles Ramsey said in a news conference Thursday that officers have interviewed 100 people about Levy. Police also have used cadaver-sniffing dogs to search some area landfills, he said. 

“The good news is we haven’t found anything that indicates she’s met with foul play. The bad news is that we haven’t found anything at all, period,” Ramsey said. 

“As time goes on, the possibility of suicide becomes more and more remote, only because you think you would find the remains.” 

A search of her apartment found nothing missing but her keys. Police have no evidence of a crime, no suggestion that Levy ran off, no similarities between Levy’s case and those of other missing persons, Ramsey said. 

“We’ve not been able to find any links and believe me, we have looked,” he said. 

The police chief talked carefully about Condit. Police have interviewed him twice and will do so a third time if necessary, Ramsey said, though they have said repeatedly he is not a suspect in Levy’s disappearance. 

Ramsey played down the relevance to the Levy investigation of allegations by flight attendant Anne Marie Smith that she had a 10-month affair with Condit. “It’s a heck of a leap. We’re not the sex police here. We’re trying to investigate a missing person,” Ramsey said. 

Condit’s private life “only matters to me if it relates to the Chandra Levy case,” he said. Although police have questioned Condit’s neighbors in his Washington condominium, they have not searched his apartment. 

Condit canceled appearances at three Independence Day parades in his central California district, telling organizers he didn’t want to be a distraction. 

CONDIT’S STATEMENT 

Text of a statement issued Thursday by Rep. Gary Condit’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, concerning the disappearance of Chandra Levy, 24, of Modesto, Calif.: 

For weeks, Congressman Condit has stated that he would assist the police in their efforts to locate Chandra Levy. 

Today, the Congressman’s wife, Carolyn, met with law enforcement officials to provide whatever information she could. To expedite this, Congressman Condit accompanied Mrs. Condit to the Washington area in order to facilitate her meeting with investigators and consequently was unable to participate in traditional 4th of July events in Modesto. 

Even prior to Mrs. Condit’s interview, Congressman Condit had given two substantial interviews to the police and directed his staff to provide information that may be requested of them. 

In light of the ongoing and central importance of the police investigation, Congressman Condit has issued statements to the press only when doing so would not interfere with the work of law enforcement authorities.  

It is clear from a review of other similar cases that broad and detailed dissemination of confidential police interviews can seriously compromise police investigations.  

With Chandra Levy’s whereabouts unknown, this is not a risk that Congressman Condit, or anyone else, should be willing to take. 

The media’s intense interest in Ms. Levy’s disappearance is completely understandable. Consequently, I have asked Marina Ein, someone I know from the communications world, to assist me with media inquiries. As the fierce competition to fill pages, airtime and Web sites threatens to spin this story out of control, Congressman Condit has resisted and will continue to resist efforts by the media to dissect and mischaracterize his and his family’s private lives.  

Unlike some, Congressman Condit remains singularly focused on what is and remains the central mission at this time – locating Chandra Levy.  

Congressman Condit hopes and prays for Chandra Levy’s safe return.  

It is his belief that the media can play an important role in helping this investigation reach a positive conclusion. It is also his belief that the media risks losing its focus with what has been a recent and seemingly unbounded effort to expose highly personal and private Condit family matters. None of these matters pertain to Ms. Levy’s disappearance or the ability of law enforcement to determine what has happened to her. To all of you, I ask that you return your focus to that priority. 

In summary, Congressman Condit has twice met with the police, followed up with the police by telephone, and reached out to meet and speak with Chandra Levy’s family. In addition, Congressman Condit’s wife has herself met with the police. 

The police have stated that Congressman Condit is not a suspect, that he has been cooperative and that his meetings with them have been productive. These are their words. 

The Congressman hopes and believes that the caring public will not confuse his well-founded reasons for not fueling a misguided media frenzy, with his, Mrs. Condit’s, and his staff’s continued willingness to speak with those professionals who are working day and night to find Chandra Levy. 

On the Net: 

Condit’s site: http://www.house.gov/gcondit