美国国家公共电台 NPR Former Attorney General Says Whitaker Appointment 'Confounds Me'

 

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Now we'd like to turn to the bombshell that President Trump¹ delivered the day after the election. Attorney General Jeff Sessions was forced out, and his former chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker, was in as acting² attorney general. Whitaker's office quickly confirmed that he would be, quote, "in charge of all matters under the purview³ of the Department of Justice," unquote, which means that Whitaker, who had been a vocal⁴ critic of Robert Mueller's investigation⁵ into possible Russian interference in the 2016 election, is now overseeing it.

This appointment has raised a bevy⁶ of questions about the legality of the appointment, as well as about Whitaker himself. To assess all this, we have another former attorney general, Alberto Gonzales. He served as attorney general and White House counsel in the presidency⁷ of George W. Bush. He's now dean of the Belmont University School of Law, and he's with us now from Nashville, Tenn.

Dean Gonzales, thank you so much for joining us once again.

ALBERTO GONZALES: It's always a pleasure to be with you on your show.

MARTIN: Well, thank you for that. First of all, questions are being raised about whether this appointment is even legal. Critics are saying that anybody serving in this role has to get Senate confirmation⁸ for this position, and they question why the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, was not placed in this role. What's your take on that?

GONZALES: I've got some issues with this, quite frankly⁹, because the notion that the chief of staff, who is not Senate-confirmed, would have more experience, more wisdom and better judgment¹⁰ than someone like the deputy attorney general or even the solicitor¹¹ general - people in the line of presidential succession within the Department of Justice - to me, it confounds me. I have to question why that decision was made.

Putting aside the question of whether or not it can be done legally, it creates additional problems or questions about the leadership at the Department of Justice at a time when we don't need any more questions about the leadership. You know, for two years, the department has been under attack. For two years, Jeff Sessions has been under attack. For two years, the Mueller investigation has been under attack. I think the last thing the department needs today is more questions about the leadership there. And so, for that reason, I - you know, I don't want to say I disagree with the president's choice. I just find it a very odd choice given the circumstances.

MARTIN: And is the discomfort¹² one of optics, or is there, in fact, a legitimate¹³ question about his authority to hold this position?

GONZALES: I think it's both. I think there is a question. I'm assuming someone spoke¹⁴ to the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice before the appointment was made and inquired as to whether or not, would this be lawful¹⁵? But it's the optics that I'm also concerned about. Whether or not it's lawful or not - and, obviously, the lawfulness¹⁶ is an important issue - but, even if it is lawful, I question whether or not putting Mr. Whitaker in this position at this particular time was a wise move, particularly when you add on top of everything else his public comments about the Mueller investigation. And I think it calls into question his impartiality¹⁷. I think it raises a whole specter of whether or not he should recuse himself.

So, again, we're right back in the situation where you've got the leadership at the department, you know, subject to questioning as to whether or not they can effectively lead the department with respect to one of the most politically-charged investigations¹⁸ that are - that's ongoing¹⁹ right now.

MARTIN: So let me just refresh people's memories, if they don't recall, about why you say that. As a commentator²⁰, Whitaker is on record having said that the investigation needs to be reined²¹ in. He's asserted there was no Russian interference into the election. He's called suggestions of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, quote, "crazy." He's suggested defunding the special counsel's investigation and called on the investigation to be wrapped up quickly. But, as we said, in his public statements or statements about him, there's no suggestion that he's considered recusing himself from the case. Could you just describe again why that is problematic for the people who are concerned about the integrity of the department or the perceptions of its integrity?

GONZALES: Well, let me first say one thing in defense²² of Mr. Whitaker. You know, he made those comments when he was out of the department. He did not have access to information about the investigation. It very well may be that when he gets briefed about the merits of the investigation he may decide, you know what? I was wrong. There's a lot here, and this is a very important investigation, and it should be allowed to complete. But, nevertheless, I do agree that those comments have raised a series of very serious questions, and it - those - and for that reason I question the appointment at this particular time.

GONZALES: Before we let you go, as a former attorney general, you certainly received your fair share of criticism. That goes with the job. But I am interested - as a person who held that seat and is now in the position of training future lawyers, future officers of the court - how does this whole thing sit with you?

GONZALES: Based upon the reporting, I'm troubled. I'm extremely troubled that a change may have been made here to stop an investigation which, by all accounts, is almost complete. I think we just wait and let this thing play out, let Bob Mueller write his report and let the American people know what actually happened here.

MARTIN: That is Alberto Gonzales. He's a former attorney general of the United States. He's now serving as dean of the Belmont University School of Law. He's with us from Nashville.

Dean Gonzales, thanks so much for talking with us once again.

GONZALES: Thanks for having me.

1 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。

2 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

3 purview   

n.范围；眼界

参考例句：

• These are questions that lie outside the purview of our inquiry.这些都不是属于我们调查范围的问题。
• That,however,was beyond the purview of the court;it was a diplomatic matter.但是，那已不在法庭权限之内；那是个外交问题。

4 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

5 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。

6 bevy   

n.一群

参考例句：

• A bevy of bathing beauties appeared on the beach.沙滩上出现了一群游泳的美女。
• Look,there comes a bevy of ladies.看，一群女人来了。

7 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

8 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

9 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

10 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

11 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。

12 discomfort   

n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便

参考例句：

• One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
• She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。

13 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

14 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

15 lawful   

adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的

参考例句：

• It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
• We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。

16 lawfulness   

法制，合法

参考例句：

• Einstein declared that randomness rather than lawfulness is the characteristic of natural events. 爱因斯坦宣称自然现象的特征为不可测性而不是规律化。 来自辞典例句
• Does the Lawfulness of War Matter? 战争的合法性有关系吗？ 来自互联网

17 impartiality   

n. 公平, 无私, 不偏

参考例句：

• He shows impartiality and detachment. 他表现得不偏不倚，超然事外。
• Impartiality is essential to a judge. 公平是当法官所必需的。

18 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

19 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。

20 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。

21 reined   

勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理

参考例句：

• Then, all of a sudden, he reined up his tired horse. 这时，他突然把疲倦的马勒住了。
• The officer reined in his horse at a crossroads. 军官在十字路口勒住了马。

22 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。