TEHRAN -- Following the sex scandal of former U.S. president Bill Clinton, the American media are now publishing reports of an illicit sexual relationship between a Democratic Congressman and his missing secretary.

According to a CNN report on Sunday, U.S. Congressman Gary Condit has admitted to having a sexual relationship with Chandra Levy, a 24-year-old government intern whose disappearance more than two months ago has sparked strong interest in the United States.

Condit, a California Democrat, acknowledged the relationship with Levy in his third interview with police detectives late Friday, saying it was still ongoing at the time of her disappearance on April 30, according to the reports.

The 53-year-old Congressman had maintained previously that Levy was just a "good friend."

Levy, who graduated from California State University in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and who was due to graduate with a master's degree from the University of Southern California in May, came to Washington last year to serve as an intern with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.