JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: There have been some protests against Congressman Condit in his home district, 18th district of California, the Modesto area. We were telling you earlier that there have been protests there this afternoon. Now there has been a bit of a reaction from the Condit camp, and that is unusual in and of itself. CNN correspondent on the Chandra Levy/Gary Condit story joins us now from our Washington bureau with our late update on that -- Bob.</s>BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The reaction was put out here in Washington, but it is the words Mike Lynch, who is the chief of staff for Congressman Condit in Modesto. And in part, it says: "The ongoing police investigation should not be exploited by partisan special interest groups, which have their own political agenda," referring of course to the organizers of the demonstration out there, the Freerepublic.com organization, an ardently Republican group. You are seeing now video of Congressman Gary Condit as he appeared today before -- as he appeared as a member of the House Agriculture Committee. His staff has made a big point of saying that even with all the controversy swirling, he has been very, very attentive to his congressional duties, and you wanted a visible example, this was it as he participated in a discussion about the farm bill in the Capitol. At a different part of town, the police were searching a park, continuing to look for Chandra Levy. They have said repeatedly that the congressman is not a suspect in the disappearance. Chandra Levy has been -- has been out of sight for 11 weeks, and the police are retracing their steps with an intensive search. The story has been really -- been conducted on both coasts, but most of the investigation, of course, would center here -- Joie.</s>CHEN: CNN's Bob Franken on the story of the hour. We will check in again with you as events warrant it, Bob.
Republican Group Organizes Protests in Congressman Condit's Home District