The embattled California congressman, Mr Gary Condit launched a carefully orchestrated media blitz yesterday in an effort salvage his political career.
Mr Condit has been silent for more than three months after it was revealed he had been having an affair with Chandra Levy, the 24-year-old White House intern who disappeared from her Washington, DC apartment on May 1st, and is now feared dead.
Mr Condit sent a letter to 200,000 constituents in the largely agricultural community of Modesto, saying that he had made "my share of mistakes" but had nothing to do with the disappearance of Ms Levy.
He did not mention the 2002 election in the letter but did tell his constituents, "I hope our relationship is strong enough to endure all of this." The letter was addressed, "Dear friends and neighbours".
"Some suggest that not talking with the media could mean I had something to do with Chandra's disappearance. I did not," Mr Condit wrote.
"I pray that she has not met the same fate as the other young women who have disappeared from the same neighbourhood."
The 53-year-old congressman, who is married and has three children, did not discuss his affair with Ms Levy in the letter, but did write, "I hope you also will understand that I am not perfect and I have made my share of mistakes."
He said he did not want to discuss his private life publicly, "but things have gone on long enough." He said tabloids had "turned the tragedy of Chandra's disappearance into a
Washington police interviewed Mr Condit four times. He did not acknowledge his affair with Ms Levy until the third interview - more than two months after she vanished. Police say he is not a suspect.
ABC News was due to air a 30 minute interview with Mr Condit early this morning (Irish time), conducted by Ms Connie Chung. There were no conditions on the interview, but ABC had agreed to air it unedited.
Mr Condit also was interviewed for the 90 minutes current affairs programme by People magazine, which plans to have its story on news stands today. He also spoke to a California television station and newspaper, as well as Newsweek magazine.