VOA标准英语2013--维吉尼亚州长接受联邦调查

 

US Governor Reportedly Under Federal Investigation¹ 维吉尼亚州长接受联邦调查

The outgoing governor of the mid-Atlantic state of Virginia, Republican Robert McDonnell, is widely reported to be under federal investigation for allegedly accepting  gifts and gratuities². The governor has defended his actions as not violating his own sate's ethic³ laws. While there have been scandals involving U.S. state governors  over the years, less than a dozen have been removed from office.

On a prominent hill in Richmond, Virginia, sits the state’s Capitol, built in 1788 - almost as old as the United States itself.

Now, this building is weathering a scandal surrounding its 71st governor, Robert McDonnell. He has been widely reported to have received loans, gifts, and special  favors for himself, for his wife, Maureen, and other family members.

Richmond-based investigative reporter Peter Galuszka lists what was allegedly given to the governor and his family - primarily from a Richmond-area businessman named  Jonnie Williams, who heads a company called Star Scientific.

He said, "Governor McDonnell has accepted some loans for a real estate corporation that he has with his family. His daughter received $15.000 for a wedding dinner. He  has been given a $6,500 Rolex watch. His wife, Maureen McDonnell, has been treated to expensive shopping sprees in New York.”

Legal observers say the Virginia state laws covering the reporting and accounting⁴ of personal activities by elected officials are not strong. And, as McDonnell himself  points out, these laws only cover him, not other family members.

“Gifts that come to me, I regularly, diligently⁵ report them in the “Statement of Economic Interests’ [report] that are done annually," said McDonnell. "But, gifts  that come to other family members, under current law, are not reportable.”

McDonnell says he has repaid the nearly $125,000 in loans from Williams and that his daughter has paid back the check Williams sent for wedding expenses. Another  McDonnell family member returned money given to her by Williams. The governor also said the Rolex watch was being returned.

However, a federal investigation is reported to be underway of Governor McDonnell and Jonnie Williams for possible legal violations⁶, including the improper⁷ exchange of  favors. The governor strongly denies any such deal.

He said, “Neither Mr. Williams, nor Star Scientific, has received any special benefit at all from the state, nor has any other company."

At the University of Richmond, political science professor Dan Palazolo says that what statehouse watchers have been waiting for is the results of the federal  investigation. And that McDonnell’s political future may hinge on what happens.

“The most important issue upcoming is the FBI report, and whether there is an indictment⁸," Palazolo said. "If there is no indictment, then I think that Bob McDonnell  kind of survives. If there is an indictment, then things get dragged on.”

Virginia’s capitol is now preparing for the inauguration⁹ in January of Governor McDonnell’s successor, Democrat¹⁰ Terry McAuliffe. McAuliffe has made clear he will  seek tighter controls on gifts both to the governor and to family members.

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 gratuities   

n.报酬( gratuity的名词复数 )；小账；小费；养老金

参考例句：

• Is one allowed to offer gratuities to the guides? 可以给导游小费吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Is receiving or giving gratuities, favors, or kickbacks prohibited? 收取任何回扣、赠品、招待等是被禁止的吗？ 来自互联网

3 ethic   

n.道德标准，行为准则

参考例句：

• They instilled the work ethic into their children.他们在孩子们的心中注入了职业道德的理念。
• The connotation of education ethic is rooted in human nature's mobility.教育伦理的内涵根源于人本性的变动性。

4 accounting   

n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表

参考例句：

• A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。
• There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

5 diligently   

ad.industriously;carefully

参考例句：

• He applied himself diligently to learning French. 他孜孜不倦地学法语。
• He had studied diligently at college. 他在大学里勤奋学习。

6 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

7 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• 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。

8 indictment   

n.起诉；诉状

参考例句：

• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
• They issued an indictment against them.他们起诉了他们。

9 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

10 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。