California governor 'disheartened' over Condit's conduct

California Gov. Gray Davis

SACRAMENTO, California (CNN) -- Dealing a political blow to a friend, California Gov. Gray Davis Monday criticized Rep. Gary Condit for not speaking out "more quickly or more fully" about his relationship to a missing former government intern.

Responding to mounting criticism over his involvement in the case, Condit has given a series of interviews in the past several days that he hoped would calm the political waters.

But numerous lawmakers and political pundits, including Democrats, have criticized Condit, saying the 53-year-old congressman was evasive in his answers about his relationship to the missing woman, Chandra Levy.

VIDEO Rep. Gary Condit's son Chad gave an exclusive interview to CNN's Larry King Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Listen to the entire Condit interview with affiliate KOVR/SBG (Part 1) (August 24) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) (Part 2) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   MORE STORIES • Flight attendant stands by Condit story   • The Condit interviews   • Californians react to Condit interview     EXTRA INFORMATION • Transcript: Gary Condit interview   • Key players   • Timeline   • Profile: Gary Condit     RESOURCES • Transcript: Chad Condit on "Larry King Live"   • Message Board: Condit and the Levy case

Among those critics was Gov. Davis.

"What I'm about to say doesn't bring me any joy whatsoever," he told reporters at an unrelated bill signing ceremony in Woodland, outside Sacramento.

"I didn't see the interview, so my information comes from news accounts and transcripts of the interview, but I am disheartened that Congressman Condit did not speak out more quickly or more fully," Davis said.

Davis did not offer any endorsement of Condit, joining a growing list of Democrats who appear to be distancing themselves from him.

"I don't have any specific advice for the congressman. What he should or shouldn't do are matters best left to him and his constituents," Davis said. The Levy family should be the media's focus, "not on the political implications or fallout of this event," he added.

Son to dad: Don't run again

Several hours after Davis' remarks, Condit's adult son -- who works for the California governor -- told Larry King on CNN that he would prefer that his father not seek reelection.

"I don't know if he'll run again," Chad Condit said. "My family vote would be that he doesn't. I don't think he deserves this. I don't think my mom deserves this. But that will be decided in the next few weeks."

The younger Condit defended his father against suspicions that he may have had something to do with the disappearance of Levy, who was last seen April 30 at a Washington health club.

"He doesn't know where she is, what happened to her -- anything of that nature," he said.

Levy had recently completed an internship with the federal Bureau of Prisons and was preparing to return to her home in Modesto, California -- in Condit's home district.

Her family has said she was romantically involved with Condit, and law enforcement sources have said Condit admitted an affair to Washington police. Condit has said publicly that Levy was only a friend.

Chad Condit refused to answer questions about the details of his father's relationship with Levy, and said that the Condit family made a mistake in choosing ABC's Connie Chung to conduct the first television interview with the embattled congressman since Levy disappeared.

"He answered all the questions Connie Chung posed him or asked him," Chad Condit said. "We picked the wrong interviewer."