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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Washington
03 July 2007
President Bush is defending his decision to commute1 the prison sentence of a former top White House aide. VOA White House Correspondent Paula Wolfson reports, the action taken by the president has heightened political tensions in Washington.
President Bush in Washington, 3 July 2007
After months of relative silence, the president intervened in the case of Lewis "Scooter" Libby -- Vice2 President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff and confidant.
Just hours after a three-judge panel ruled Libby could not remain free on bail3 pending4 appeal, the president issued a grant of executive clemency5, commuting6 the prison sentence.
Mr. Bush says the action was justified7.
"I made a judgment8, a considered judgment that I believe is the right decision to make in this case. I stand by it," Mr. Bush said.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday after a visit with wounded soldiers at a Washington D.C. military hospital, the president stressed he weighed his options carefully. And he indicated he has not ruled out the possibility of an eventual9 pardon for Libby.
Former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, 05 Jun 2007 |
Libby was convicted in March of lying to investigators10 looking into whether administration officials illegally disclosed the name of a now-retired CIA officer, Valerie Plame Wilson. Her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, has been a harsh critic of the Iraq war, and there have been accusations11 that her name was made public for political reasons.
Libby was subsequently sentenced to 30 months in prison, two years probation12 and a 250,000 dollar fine. During a briefing for reporters, White House spokesman Tony Snow stressed that while President Bush commuted13 Libby's prison time, the conviction still stands and other penalties remain.
"The president, (after) weeks and weeks of consideration, came to the conclusion that 30 months in jail was excessive and he is comfortable with the (rest of the) punishment, which is still quite severe," Snow said.
Mr. Bush has the right to commute prison sentences under the Constitution, as well as the right to issue a complete pardon.
But his critics argue he overstepped the line in the Libby case, and acted simply to help a political crony.
Senator Charles Schumer of New York -- a senior Democrat14 on the Senate Judiciary Committee -- was among the first to speak out.
"One understands loyalty15 and friendship, but it shouldn't come at the sake of the highest principles in the land one of those principle is equal justice," senator Schumer said.
Congressional Republicans were muted in their response. But former Senator Fred Thompson, who has indicated he plans to join the race for the Republican presidential nomination16, was quick to praise the president. Thompson said the action taken by President Bush will enable "a good American who has done a lot for his country to resume his life."
1 commute | |
vi.乘车上下班;vt.减(刑);折合;n.上下班交通 | |
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2 vice | |
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的 | |
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3 bail | |
v.舀(水),保释;n.保证金,保释,保释人 | |
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4 pending | |
prep.直到,等待…期间;adj.待定的;迫近的 | |
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5 clemency | |
n.温和,仁慈,宽厚 | |
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6 commuting | |
交换(的) | |
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7 justified | |
a.正当的,有理的 | |
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8 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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9 eventual | |
adj.最后的,结局的,最终的 | |
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10 investigators | |
n.调查者,审查者( investigator的名词复数 ) | |
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11 accusations | |
n.指责( accusation的名词复数 );指控;控告;(被告发、控告的)罪名 | |
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12 probation | |
n.缓刑(期),(以观后效的)察看;试用(期) | |
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13 commuted | |
通勤( commute的过去式和过去分词 ); 减(刑); 代偿 | |
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14 democrat | |
n.民主主义者,民主人士;民主党党员 | |
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15 loyalty | |
n.忠诚,忠心 | |
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16 nomination | |
n.提名,任命,提名权 | |
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