California Congressman Gary Condit, whose affair with a young female intern who went missing became tabloid fodder at mid-year in the United States, has announced plans to run for re-election to the US legislature.
Condit, surrounded by several aides, his son Chad and several dozen reporters and photographers, walked into the Stanislaus County, California registrar's office Friday and dropped off 1,500 nomination signatures and a check for 1,451 dollars required to formally file his candidacy.
"It was a tough decision, but I've been representing the (district) for a long time," said describing himself as a "great public servant."
Condit became the target of intense media scrutiny after his paramour Chandra Levy, 24, a constituent from his California district, disappeared in late April, several days after she finished an internship with the Bureau of Prisons in the US capital. She has never been found.
For several weeks Condit was scrutinized by investigators for a possible role in Levy's disappearance, but police later said they believed he played no role.
Condit's decision to enter the race came despite the misgivings of many prominent Democrats, who distanced themselves from him as the Levy saga unfolded over a slow news summer.
Condit said that he planned to run on his record, and scolded the media, whom he accused of unfair coverage. "You guys will have to decide whether you're going to be fair to me," he said -- San Francisco (AFP)
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