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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Rep. Fortenberry fights criminal charges while seeking reelection
Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska will be in federal court Wednesday, accused of accepting illegal campaign donations and lying about it. He's also in a challenge to keep his seat.
A MARTINEZ, HOST:
Nebraska Congressman1 Jeff Fortenberry is in federal court today, accused of accepting illegal campaign donations and lying about it. He's facing these charges while also in a challenge to keep his seat. Bill Kelly with Nebraska Public Media News reports.
BILL KELLY, BYLINE2: Last October, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry released a video on YouTube to let Nebraska know he'd been indicted3 by a federal grand jury.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
JEFF FORTENBERRY: I wanted to send you a video because we do have something hard to tell you.
KELLY: Fortenberry sits in the cab of his pickup4 next to his wife and hunting dog. He explained FBI agents interviewed him about accepting illegal campaign donations.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
FORTENBERRY: They've accused me of lying to them and are charging me with this. We're shocked. We're stunned5.
KELLY: The story begins in 2014. Fortenberry championed the cause of the Christian6 minority facing persecution7 in the Middle East, one favored by Gilbert Chagoury, a Lebanese-born industrialist8 living in Nigeria. Anna Massoglia researched the billionaire's donations for OpenSecrets.org.
ANNA MASSOGLIA: He's been a quiet figure since the 1990s. He had been involved in contributions to the Clintons. He has given to both sides of the aisles9.
KELLY: In court documents, prosecutors11 say Chagoury made payments to a group of American citizens, who then wrote checks to Fortenberry at a 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles, becoming so-called straw donors12.
MASSOGLIA: This happens because foreign nationals are prohibited from getting involved in U.S. elections, pushing for specific candidates.
KELLY: Prosecutors say the FBI secretly recorded the host of the fundraiser telling Fortenberry more than once the contributions originated with Chagoury, who legally could not donate as a foreign national. Sometime later, the congressman got the knock on the door at his home in Nebraska, as he explained from the cab of his pickup.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
FORTENBERRY: They were FBI agents from California. I let them in my house. I answered their questions. Later, we went back and answered further questions. I told them what I knew and what I understood.
KELLY: Chagoury had already admitted knowing the scheme was illegal, according to a plea bargain filed in federal court. He struck a deal, avoiding criminal charges. After a second FBI interview, Fortenberry was charged with lying to federal agents. He returned the donations once he learned he was being investigated. Days after being indicted, a state senator announced a primary election campaign and won the endorsement13 of Governor Pete Ricketts. Fortenberry's defense14 team says the investigation15 was a political setup, skimming over the fact that the billionaire Chagoury sought influence across the political spectrum16 in Washington.
LAURIE LEVENSON: I think the Department of Justice is developing zero tolerance17 for those who would violate the rules and then lie about it.
KELLY: Former U.S. attorney and Loyola law professor Laurie Levenson says $30,000 is a small case, but it sends a message to public officials.
LEVENSON: Where Fortenberry really got himself in trouble was lying. And that's what the prosecutors have gone after him about. They don't need to bring a bribery18 charge. They don't have to show the quid pro10 quo. They just have to show the lie.
KELLY: Prosecutors say Gilbert Chagoury was advised to donate to rural lawmakers because small donations make a big impression in those campaigns. The congressman faces a maximum of 15 years in prison on three federal charges.
For NPR News, I'm Bill Kelly in Lincoln, Neb.
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Congressman
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n.(美)国会议员 | |
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2
byline
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n.署名;v.署名 | |
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indicted
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控告,起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pickup
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n.拾起,获得 | |
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stunned
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adj. 震惊的,惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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Christian
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adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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persecution
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n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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industrialist
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n.工业家,实业家 | |
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aisles
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n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
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pro
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n.赞成,赞成的意见,赞成者 | |
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prosecutors
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检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 ); 告发人; 起诉人; 公诉人 | |
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donors
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n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 );献血者;捐血者;器官捐献者 | |
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endorsement
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n.背书;赞成,认可,担保;签(注),批注 | |
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defense
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n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩 | |
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investigation
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n.调查,调查研究 | |
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16
spectrum
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n.谱,光谱,频谱;范围,幅度,系列 | |
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tolerance
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n.宽容;容忍,忍受;耐药力;公差 | |
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bribery
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n.贿络行为,行贿,受贿 | |
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