2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Orders Documents Seized from Congressman's

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
25 May 2006

President Bush has stepped in to calm a constitutional dispute between Congress and federal authorities over documents seized from the office of a congressman¹ under investigation² for corruption³. The action came amid negotiations⁴ between Congressional leaders and government officials over the materials.

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George W. Bush
  

The president says he recognizes the deeply-held views of Congress and the Justice Department over the documents seized from the office of House Democratic Congressman William Jefferson.

Referring to what he calls a dilemma⁶ the government has not faced in 2.5 centuries, he ordered the documents sealed for 45 days.

This, the president says, will give both sides in the dispute more time to resolve the issues in a way that ensures that materials relevant to the ongoing⁷ criminal investigation of Congressman Jefferson are made available to prosecutors⁸ in a manner that respects the interests of a coequal branch of government.

Congressional leaders had been discussing the status of the documents with Justice Department officials and the White House.

Dennis Hastert   
  
Earlier this week, House Speaker, Dennis Hastert, and the House Democratic minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, issued an unprecedented⁹ joint¹⁰ statement demanding their return.

They accused federal authorities of violating the principle of separation of powers, as well as the speech or debate clause of the U.S. Constitution, which provides immunity¹¹ to lawmakers, while they are engaged in legislative¹³ acts.

The Justice Department insists it acted properly, and took great care in compiling a lengthy¹⁴ affidavit¹⁵, seeking court approval for a search warrant and carrying out the search of the office.
 
 
William Jefferson
  
Congressman Jefferson has not been charged with any crime, but has been under investigation since last year. He denies any wrongdoing and had demanded that the FBI return the documents it seized.

The unusual bipartisan display of unity¹² by House leaders on the issue did not please many lawmakers, such as Massachusetts Democrat⁵ Barney Frank.

"It [the speech and debate clause in the Constitution] ought to be construed¹⁶ narrowly," said Barney Frank. "It should not in any way be interpreted as meaning that we, as members of Congress, have legal protections superior to those of the average citizen. So, I think it was a grave error to have

criticized the FBI. I think, what they did, they ought to be able to do in any case where they can get a warrant from a judge."

Lawmakers have been walking a fine line between supporting a law enforcement investigation and the sensitive issue of corruption, and their obligation to defend constitutional principles.

House Majority Leader John Boehner addressed the issue on Thursday:

"There are conversations under way about the speech and debate clause and how we protect the Constitution," said John Boehner. "Every two years, I stand in the well of the House, and raise my right hand, and swear to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. While we are not going to harbor any information that could be helpful in a criminal investigation, there is a Constitution that we are all sworn to uphold."

In the Senate, Republican David Vitter sent a letter to Majority Leader Bill Frist complaining about the joint statement by House leaders.

Vitter elaborated in a Thursday news conference.

"I think this outcry from congressional leaders just looks self-serving and defensive¹⁷ to the American people," said David Vitter. "And, I think, it is further eroding¹⁸ confidence in Congress, at a time when it is already very, very low because of these scandals, things like the [former Congressman] Duke Cunningham scandal, and, now, allegations, of course not proven yet, allegations about Congressman Jefferson."

Congressman Jefferson had filed a motion this week in court to force the Justice Department to return his documents.

President Bush has ordered that they remain with the U.S. Solicitor¹⁹ General during the 45-day seal period.

The controversy²⁰ will continue next week, as the House Judiciary Committee is to hold a hearing to examine what its Republican Chairman called troubling constitutional questions raised by the FBI search of Jefferson's office.

1 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• 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。

2 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。

3 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• 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。

4 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

5 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

6 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

7 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

8 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• 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。

9 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

10 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• 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。

11 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

12 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

13 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

14 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

15 affidavit   

n.宣誓书

参考例句：

• I gave an affidavit to the judge about the accident I witnessed.我向法官提交了一份关于我目击的事故的证词。
• The affidavit was formally read to the court.书面证词正式向出席法庭的人宣读了。

16 construed   

v.解释（陈述、行为等）( construe的过去式和过去分词 )；翻译，作句法分析

参考例句：

• He considered how the remark was to be construed. 他考虑这话该如何理解。
• They construed her silence as meaning that she agreed. 他们把她的沉默解释为表示赞同。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

18 eroding   

侵蚀，腐蚀( erode的现在分词 )； 逐渐毁坏，削弱，损害

参考例句：

• The coast is slowly eroding. 海岸正慢慢地被侵蚀。
• Another new development is eroding the age-old stereotype of the male warrior. 另一个新现象是，久已形成的男人皆武士的形象正逐渐消失。

19 solicitor   

n.初级律师，事务律师

参考例句：

• The solicitor's advice gave me food for thought.律师的指点值得我深思。
• The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case.律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。

20 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• 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。