D.C. police chief says Condit 'difficult'

Washington, D.C., Police Chief Charles Ramsey

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Police Chief Charles Ramsey issued some of his most critical and extensive comments to date about Rep. Gary Condit's cooperation with authorities investigating the disappearance of Chandra Levy, saying it's been "quite difficult" to get information from him.

Talking Thursday with CNN affiliate WUSA, Ramsey compared Condit's answers to investigators with those he gave ABC during a high-profile interview last week. Numerous lawmakers and political pundits blasted Condit as evasive in his answers during the TV interview.

"I think that people pretty much got a glimpse of what we've been going through over the last four interviews we've had with the congressman -- a lot of conversation, but not a lot of substance," Ramsey said.

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While the California Democrat has described himself as fully cooperative with police and the FBI, Ramsey made it clear that authorities have a different perspective.

"He'll tell you what you want to hear if you ask it properly," Ramsey said. "So it's kind of strange to describe. He does answer all of your questions. But if you don't ask the exact question in the right way, then perhaps you need to go back and interview again."

Ramsey noted the number of times Metropolitan Police have interviewed Condit.

"The fact that we've had to interview him four times is the really the result of the fact that's it's been quite difficult to get information in a timely fashion that would really be helpful," Ramsey said.

Levy, a 24-year-old California native, disappeared from Washington four months ago. Her family has said she had a relationship with Condit, a 53-year-old married grandfather. Condit has publicly refused to say whether he had a romantic relationship with her, but police sources said he admitted to one during an interview.

Police are handling Levy's disappearance as a missing person case. But despite hundreds of tips and weeks spent searching city parks and buildings, they have no firm leads about what happened to Levy, who had recently completed an internship with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

"There are no suspects," Ramsey said. "We've made some progress in the case, but then again nothing that's leading us any closer to finding Ms. Levy."

Ramsey also had some criticism for the news media. While not as harsh as Condit, who has said the media owe him an apology, Ramsey said the coverage has been marred by some inaccuracies and speculation.

"There have been a lot of things said -- especially (on) the all-news networks -- that gets a little out there at times, from people that are just speculating, that have no information at all about the case and where we're at in the investigation," the chief said. "I guess that's just the nature of the way things are covered these days."

As he has noted before, Ramsey said Condit is just one of roughly 100 people that police have interviewed about Levy.

"He is a very high-profile individual by the nature of his job, but aside from that, he's no different than anyone else we've talked to," Ramsey said.