2007年VOA标准英语-Lawmakers Probe Possible Political Motivations
时间：2019-02-05 作者：英语课 分类：2007年VOA标准英语（三月）
By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
06 March 2007
Congress is stepping up investigations 2 into suggestions that political motivations were behind the Bush administration's dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys. VOA's Dan Robinson reports, the controversy 3 over the firings could have significant repercussions 4.
U.S. attorneys are appointed to head local federal prosecutors 5' offices across the United States, to represent the U.S. government in criminal and civil cases, and coordinate 6 law enforcement activities.
While they are political appointees nominated by and serving at the pleasure of the president, they are protective of their independence from partisan 7 political pressures.
But the removal of so many at the mid-point of a presidential administration is considered highly unusual.
And the involvement of two Republican lawmakers in the controversy over the firing of the eight prosecutors, as well as denials by the U.S. Justice Department that politics played any role, combine to create another Washington political drama.
David Iglesias, dismissed as a U.S. Attorney in New Mexico, described a phone call he received before last year's mid-term congressional elections from Republican Senator Pete Domenici seeking information about the status of indictments 8 in a corruption 9 investigation 1 involving Democrats 10 in the state.
Iglesias had this exchange with Democratic Senator Charles Schumer:
SCHUMER: "And so, is it fair to say that you felt pressured to hurry subsequent cases and prosecutions 12 as a result of the call?"
IGLESIAS: "Yes, sir, I did. I felt leaned on. I felt pressured to get these matters moving."
Iglesias adds that he was dismissed about six weeks later, although he makes no direct allegations of a connection between his firing and the phone call from the Republican senator.
Senator Domenici and Congresswoman Heather Wilson, a New Mexico Republican who also contacted Iglesias, deny their contacts were aimed at exerting political pressure.
Some of the attorneys also described pressure from the Department of Justice after some of them were quoted in media reports that appeared after Congress began to investigate the firings.
John McKay was U.S. attorney in Seattle until he was removed last December:
"[The message was] that any work with the Congress or testimony 13 before the Congress would be seen as an escalation 14 by the Department of Justice, and that they would respond accordingly," said Mr. McKay.
In a carefully worded joint 15 statement, the attorneys say they regret the circumstances under which they appeared before lawmakers, while reiterating 16 they received little or no information from the Justice Department about the reasons for their dismissal.
Carol Lam is a former U.S. attorney from San Diego involved in the prosecution 11 on corruption charges of a former Republican congressman 17:
"This hearing is not a forum 18 to engage in speculation 19, and we decline to speculate about the reasons," she said. "We have every confidence that the excellent career attorneys in our offices will continue to serve as aggressive, independent advocates of the best interests of the people of the United States."
The Bush administration says the dismissals were due to dissatisfaction with what it calls policy decisions the U.S. attorneys made. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez has strongly denied he would remove anyone for political reasons.
Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Pat Leahy is not persuaded:
"I really believe they threaten to undermine the effectiveness and professionalism of U.S. attorney's offices around the country," he said.
Republican Senator Arlen Spector cautioned that Congress would view seriously any evidence that attorneys were removed for political reasons:
"We [in Congress] have a weighty responsibility so that we do not tamper 20 with the established right of the president to replace U.S. attorneys, but deal with the question of whether they are being replaced because they are doing a job which is politically sensitive, or going after corruption, or being replaced for some improper 21 motive," he noted 22.
Congressional Democrats are also alleging 23 that the Bush administration is using a little-noticed provision in the USA Patriot 24 Act, the anti-terror law renewed by Congress, to appoint political allies to U.S. attorney posts, and get around the Senate confirmation 25 process
Depending on additional information emerging in congressional inquiries 26, contacts between lawmakers and U.S. attorneys could become the latest ethics 27 issue to emerge in Congress.
- In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
- He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
- His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
- He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。
- That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
- We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。
- The collapse of the company will have repercussions for the whole industry. 这家公司的垮台将会给整个行业造成间接的负面影响。
- Human acts have repercussions far beyond the frontiers of the human world. 人类行为所产生的影响远远超出人类世界的范围。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
- You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。
- You must coordinate what you said with what you did.你必须使你的言行一致。
- Maybe we can coordinate the relation of them.或许我们可以调和他们之间的关系。
- In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
- The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。
- A New York jury brought criminal indictments against the founder of the organization. 纽约的一个陪审团对这个组织的创始人提起了多项刑事诉讼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- These two indictments are self-evident and require no elaboration. 这两条意义自明，无须多说。 来自互联网
- The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
- The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。
- The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
- The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
- He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。
- It is the duty of the Attorney-General to institute prosecutions. 检察总长负责提起公诉。
- Since World War II, the government has been active in its antitrust prosecutions. 第二次世界大战以来，政府积极地进行着反对托拉斯的检举活动。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
- The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
- He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。
- The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
- Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句
- I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
- We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。
- He keeps reiterating his innocence. 他一再申明他无罪。
- The Chinese government also sent a note to the British government, reiterating its position. 中国政府同时将此立场照会英国政府。
- He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
- The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。
- They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
- The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。
- Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
- There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。
- Do not tamper with other's business.不要干预别人的事。
- They had strict orders not to tamper with the customs of the minorities.他们得到命令严禁干涉少数民族的风俗习惯。
- Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
- Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。
- The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
- Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
- His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging he'd evaded his taxes. 由于报上一篇文章声称他曾逃税，他的名誉受到损害。
- This our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient. 那位贵人不肯，还说不必，只要有她老表唐希尔保荐就够了。
- He avowed himself a patriot.他自称自己是爱国者。
- He is a patriot who has won the admiration of the French already.他是一个已经赢得法国人敬仰的爱国者。
- We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
- We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。
- He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
- I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》