By TOM HAYS Associated Press Writer

December 16, 2002, 8:14 PM EST

NEW YORK -- Former Rep. Gary Condit sued Dominick Dunne for $11 million on Monday, claiming the author slandered him in interviews about the Chandra Levy case.

Dunne "made false and defamatory statements accusing (Condit) of involvement in the crimes of kidnapping and murder," said the lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan.

The suit cited radio, television and newspaper interviews in which Dunne linked Condit to the disappearance of Levy.

Dunne described receiving a mysterious tip that Levy's killers were associates of a prostitution ring serving Arab embassies where Condit was a frequent guest, and that her body was dumped into the ocean from an airplane, suit said.

"I can't authenticate all of this," Dunne said on CNN's "Larry King Live" in February. "But (the source) said she was essentially kidnapped, that she was drugged. She was taken in a limousine. She was put on a plane."

After Levy's remains were found in May in Rock Creek Park in Washington, Dunne was quoted in a newspaper article saying the tip turned out to be a hoax. But he still cast suspicion on Condit, the suit said.

"I don't think he killed her," Dunne allegedly said. "I think he could have known it was going to happen."

The California Democrat reportedly told investigators he was having an affair with Levy, a former intern at the Bureau of Prisons. But he denied any involvement in her disappearance, and police never named him as a suspect.

Dunne "transformed an allegation of sexual misconduct into criminal accusations," said Condit's attorney, L. Lin Wood.

Condit, who lost re-election earlier this year, decided "he would not tolerate these kinds of accusations," Wood said. He added his client planned to file similar suits against other defendants.

A call to Dunne was not immediately returned.

Dunne, who has written about the high-profile trials of O.J. Simpson and Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel, is a frequent commentator about the legal troubles of the rich and famous. He writes a column for Vanity Fair magazine and hosts his own series on Court TV.

Because of Dunne's comments, Condit "has suffered emotional distress and mental pain," along with "permanent impairment to his ability to obtain or maintain gainful employment," the suit said. He seeks at least $1 million in compensatory and $10 million in punitive damages.

-- Anonymous, December 16, 2002

Answers

...permanent impairment to his ability to obtain or maintain gainful employment,"...

Oh come on! I'm sure he could get a job at some bar or even Kmart.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2002