Condit Consoles, Eludes

WASHINGTON--As the news broke Wednesday on Capitol Hill that police had identified the remains of Chandra Levy, Rep. Gary A. Condit (D-Ceres) took refuge in his job: He stayed on the House floor, cast votes on legislation and holed up in the Democratic cloakroom, out of reach of the media pack that searched for him. His colleagues in the House, meanwhile, expressed sorrow as the news spread through the halls of Congress as fast as e-mail signals could flash between handheld computers.

“I hope it brings some closure to her family,” Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said somberly.

House Democratic leaders were behind closed doors discussing the day’s major legislative battles when Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) announced the news to them, according to a source in the meeting. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) dropped her head into her hands. A hush fell over the room.

Other members quickly realized that the day’s legislative news would be eclipsed as media attention shifted again to the case of the missing federal intern.

“Oh, Christ. Now the press are going to come asking stupid questions again,” said Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.).

At Condit’s office, at the end of a long, second-floor hallway in a building across the street from the Capitol, reporters and camera crews kept vigil throughout the afternoon and into early evening.

But there was no sign of the besieged lawmaker. About 6 p.m., Condit’s staff locked the office doors and left. The press corps dispersed about 30 minutes later after concluding that there were better odds of a Condit sighting in the corridors of the Capitol.

The only communication from Condit was a statement issued by his office in which he expressed sorrow for the Levy family.

His California colleagues were mum about the discovery. “I don’t know what to make of it,” said Rep. Calvin M. Dooley (D-Visalia).

Said a spokesman for Rep. Robert T. Matsui (D-Sacramento), “I don’t think he wants to comment on it.”

Others tried to go about their business. “I have not been in Conditland for four hours,” said a senior Democratic leadership aide. “I’ve been engaged in serious business.”

Earlier in the day, before police confirmed that the remains found in Rock Creek Park were Levy’s, Condit could be seen sitting in the House chamber in the back row, smiling and joshing with colleagues--mostly like-minded conservative Democrats dubbed the “Blue Dogs.”

Times staff writer Warren Vieth contributed to this report.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Chandra Levy Timeline

A chronology of events in the disappearance of Chandra Levy:

May 1: Levy spends much of the morning surfing the Internet, logging off at 1 p.m. Until Wednesday, it was the last trace of her, police say.

May 6: Unable to reach their daughter, Dr. Robert and Susan Levy call Washington police. They also call their congressman, Rep. Gary A. Condit (D-Ceres).

May 10: Condit contributes $10,000 to a reward fund and describes Levy as a “great person and good friend.”

May 16: E-mail written by Levy in December talks about an unidentified romantic interest with ties to Congress. Condit aides deny their boss had an affair with Levy.

July 2: Flight attendant Anne Marie Smith alleges Condit asked her to sign a declaration denying what she described as a 10-month affair. She also says Condit encouraged her not to talk to investigators looking into the Levy disappearance. Condit denies asking anyone not to cooperate, but he does not dispute the affair.

July 10: With Condit’s consent, police and FBI agents search his Washington apartment.

July 12: Condit takes a polygraph test arranged by his lawyer, who later announces the test found Condit was honest when he said he had nothing to do with Levy’s disappearance.

Aug. 23: Condit submits to his first interview since Levy’s disappearance and denies involvement.

Nov. 15: A Washington grand jury subpoenas Condit’s telephone message slips, calendars and other documents.

March 5, 2002: Condit loses the Democratic congressional primary.

May 22: Dental records confirm remains found in Washington park are Levy’s.