美国国家公共电台 NPR Former NBC Correspondent Accuses Tom Brokaw Of Sexual Misconduct

 

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

A former NBC News correspondent is accusing Tom Brokaw. She says Brokaw groped and forcibly tried to kiss her in the 1990s. NPR's Scott Neuman has more.

SCOTT NEUMAN, BYLINE¹: Linda Vester, who worked for NBC for a decade before moving to Fox in 1999, tells Variety magazine that Brokaw made unwanted advances toward her on two occasions in the 1990s. In August 1993, Vester says she was in Denver to cover the visit of Pope John Paul II.

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LINDA VESTER: While I was standing² in the Denver bureau with my back to the door, from behind me out of nowhere, Tom Brokaw walked up, put his hands on my waist and tickled³ me all up and down my waist. It was physically⁴ unpleasant and humiliating.

NEUMAN: Months later in New York, Vester says Brokaw showed up at her hotel room. She began by exchanging computer messages with him. And Vester says she tried to dissuade⁵ him from coming to her room. When she voiced objections to a proposed affair from Brokaw, Vester says...

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VESTER: At that point, he took the same hand, reached behind my head and tried to force me to kiss him. I pulled back with all the strength I could muster⁶ and stood up.

NEUMAN: In a statement issued by NBC, the 78-year-old Brokaw says he met Vester on two occasions 23 years ago, that she requested the meetings to discuss her career. He says the meetings were brief, cordial and appropriate and that he never made any romantic overtures⁷ toward her.

Brokaw is the second major figure at NBC to be accused of sexual misconduct after several women came forward last year to accuse former host Matt Lauer. Just as the Brokaw story was breaking, Lauer, who was fired from "The Today Show" over the allegations, broke his silence, acknowledging that he acted inappropriately but denying he had ever been coercive, aggressive or abusive. Vester, who worked in war zones for NBC, has since left the news business altogether. She says it was NBC's internal investigation⁸ following the allegations against Lauer that prompted her to come forward.

Scott Neuman, NPR News.

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1 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 tickled   

（使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐

参考例句：

• We were tickled pink to see our friends on television. 在电视中看到我们的一些朋友，我们高兴极了。
• I tickled the baby's feet and made her laugh. 我胳肢孩子的脚，使她发笑。

4 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

5 dissuade   

v.劝阻，阻止

参考例句：

• You'd better dissuade him from doing that.你最好劝阻他别那样干。
• I tried to dissuade her from investing her money in stocks and shares.我曾设法劝她不要投资于股票交易。

6 muster   

v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册

参考例句：

• Go and muster all the men you can find.去集合所有你能找到的人。
• I had to muster my courage up to ask him that question.我必须鼓起勇气向他问那个问题。

7 overtures   

n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲

参考例句：

• Their government is making overtures for peace. 他们的政府正在提出和平建议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had lately begun to make clumsy yet endearing overtures of friendship. 最近他开始主动表示友好，样子笨拙却又招人喜爱。 来自辞典例句

8 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• 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。