Gephardt holds meetings to discuss Condit

Gephardt, right, has criticized the California congressman for not being more forthright about the Levy case.

From Kate Snow
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The top Democrat in the House has called colleagues to his office for one-on-one discussions about Rep. Gary Condit, CNN has learned.

According to an aide, House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Missouri, met with a handful of Democrats individually on Wednesday night and Thursday to talk about the California Democrat's situation. Condit has been under fire for his conduct in relation to the investigation of the disappearance of former intern Chandra Levy.

The aide gave no further information about which members participated in the meetings or what specific subjects were being discussed.

On Wednesday, Gephardt indicated that he would talk with colleagues about Condit's political future and about the possibility of removing him from his seat on the sensitive House Intelligence Committee. Critics have called for Condit's removal from that position, fearing he is open to blackmail because of his connection to the Levy investigation.

"I don't know what the options are at this point," Gephardt told reporters Wednesday. "I don't know what will come of the process, but you have to deal with a fair process here. This is not something where I go off and make decisions. I have to talk with my colleagues, talk with the caucus. We have an ethics process in this House that has to be respected. We're going to do these things in the right way."

The conversations between Gephardt and members appeared to be happening very quietly.

At larger gatherings, there has been no talk of Condit or his political future. At a meeting for all House Democrats on Thursday morning, the California congressman's name was never mentioned, according to several in attendance.

Similarly, at a meeting of Democratic leaders Wednesday night, the subject never came up, according to aides.

Meanwhile, a California civil grand jury considered a complaint Thursday filed by attorneys for Anne Marie Smith -- a flight attendant who says Condit tried to get her to sign a sworn statement in June that said they never had a yearlong affair.

Smith's attorneys requested the indictments of Condit, his chief of staff, Mike Lynch, and his investigator, Don Thornton, both for civil and criminal grand jury consideration. Court officials say the panel can reject the case, carry out its own investigation or recommend that the district attorney investigate. A decision, which will not be announced publicly, is expected in a few days.

No matter what the civil grand jury decides, authorities say the Modesto Police Department is investigating Smith's claim because the complaint was filed separately for consideration by a criminal grand jury.

Levy, 24, disappeared May 1. Police sources said Condit, 53, admitted in the third of four interviews with law enforcement officials that he had an affair with her, but he has never publicly acknowledged that. He has said that he had nothing to do with her disappearance, and police have said he is not a suspect in what is still a missing person investigation.