VOA慢速英语--报道称特朗普调查可能妨碍司法公正

 

The investigation¹ of possible Russian interference in the U.S. election is reportedly looking into whether President Donald Trump³ may have obstructed⁵ justice.

The special counsel heading the Russia investigation is Robert Mueller, a former FBI director. He plans to interview three Trump administration officials to study possible obstruction⁶ of justice, multiple newspapers reported.

The reports – in The Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal – said the information came from individuals with knowledge of the investigation.

Mueller is reportedly seeking interviews with Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, National Security Agency (NSA) Director Michael Rogers and former NSA Deputy Director Richard Ledgett.

The reports said Mueller is looking into whether Trump sought help from Coats or others to end an investigation into former national security adviser⁷ Michael Flynn.

Flynn was removed from his job by Trump in February. He also was a top supporter of Trump during the campaign. White House officials said Flynn was let go because he had lied to Vice⁸ President Mike Pence. Flynn was dishonest about past contact with Russia’s ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak.

Comey served as FBI director for nearly four years before Trump ordered his dismissal last month. Comey testified before a U.S. Senate committee last week. He said Trump told him he hoped he would drop an investigation into Flynn’s possible connections to Russian officials. Comey said he found this troubling because the FBI is supposed to operate independently of the president.

Trump’s personal lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, said in a statement after Comey’s testimony⁹ “the president never, in form or substance, directed or suggested that Mr. Comey stop investigating anyone.”

Trump has repeatedly condemned¹⁰ the investigation and called news coverage¹¹ about it “fake news.” He has denied there was any collusion between his campaign and Russian officials to interfere² in the U.S. election.

He took to Twitter Thursday to criticize again. "They made up a phony collusion with the Russians story, found zero proof, so now they go for obstruction of justice on the phony story. Nice," Trump tweeted.

In a second tweet, Trump said, "You are witnessing the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history - led by some very bad and conflicted people!"

What is obstruction of justice?

Obstruction of justice is the crime of taking actions to interfere with an official investigation. A person could be using threats or force to influence, delay or block the administration of law. It could also include providing false information to prosecute¹².

The target of obstruction may be a judge, juror, lawyer, witness, or law enforcement or other government official. The suspected obstruction must show evidence of “corrupt intent.” Legal experts say this is a very difficult standard to meet.

Jonathan Turley is a professor at George Washington University School of Law in Washington. He says he does not believe there is currently enough evidence to prove the charge against Trump.

“The president is not facing a particularly compelling case of obstruction for prosecution¹³ at this time,” he said.

Andy McCarthy, a former federal prosecutor¹⁴ and now a fellow at the conservative National Review Institute, agrees. He said that as head of the executive branch of government, Trump has “prosecutorial discretion¹⁵” to end an investigation. Therefore, he “couldn’t conceivably have thought he was doing something wrong,” McCarthy said.

Louis Michael Seidman is a professor of constitutional law at Georgetown University. He also does not see a case for charging Trump. However, he said Comey’s removal after refusing to carry out the president’s wishes is “a serious matter.”

“No one outside the White House is contesting the fact that that is what happened, that director Comey is telling the truth,” Seidman said.

“If he is telling the truth, that means the president has lied about it and that is a further indication he may not be fit to be president of the United States,” he added.

Words in This Story

obstruct⁴ – v. block or stop

fake – adj. not real or true

collusion – n. secretly work with others to do something, especially illegal or dishonest

phony – adj. not true, real or genuine

witch hunt – n. attempt to blame or punish someone for something in an unfair way

prosecute – v. hold a trial against someone for crimes

compelling – adj. exciting, interesting

discretion – n. right to choose what should be done in a particular situation

conceivably – adj. possibility to imagine or believe

contest – v. to dispute or make an argument in a legal case

1 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。

2 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

3 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

4 obstruct   

v.阻隔，阻塞(道路、通道等)；n.阻碍物，障碍物

参考例句：

• He became still more dissatisfied with it and secretly did everything in his power to obstruct it.他对此更不满意，尽在暗里使绊子。
• The fallen trees obstruct the road.倒下的树将路堵住了。

5 obstructed   

阻塞( obstruct的过去式和过去分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止

参考例句：

• Tall trees obstructed his view of the road. 有大树挡着，他看不到道路。
• The Irish and Bristol Channels were closed or grievously obstructed. 爱尔兰海峡和布里斯托尔海峡或遭受封锁，或受到了严重阻碍。

6 obstruction   

n.阻塞，堵塞；障碍物

参考例句：

• She was charged with obstruction of a police officer in the execution of his duty.她被指控妨碍警察执行任务。
• The road was cleared from obstruction.那条路已被清除了障碍。

7 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

8 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

9 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• 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。

10 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

11 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

12 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

13 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• 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。

14 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

15 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。