PBS高端访谈:联邦调查局局长詹姆斯·科米遭解雇

 　　And now we get a Democratic perspective. We're joined on the telephone by Congressman² Eric Swalwell of California. He serves on the House Intelligence Committee.

　　Congressman Swalwell, your reaction to the news that President Trump³ has fired the director of the FBI, James Comey?

　　Good evening. Judy. This is an abuse of power unlike anything we have seen in our country since President Nixon. I worry right now for our democracy.

　　And I hope that Republicans join me in making sure that this investigation⁴ into the president doesn't go away, as it seems like he wishes it would.

　　Now, let me just cite you a little of what I just heard from Senator Susan Collins, who has been outspoken⁵ at times in her disagreement with President Trump on different issues.

　　But, in this instance, she said in so many words that she believes the FBI director left himself open when he violated protocol⁶, in essence,

　　violated the pattern of behavior, practice at the FBI, and went public last summer with the investigation that the FBI had conducted into Hillary Clinton's e-mail server,

　　in saying that the FBI wouldn't prosecute⁷, and yes, he had found that they conducted the investigation poorly, but there would be no prosecution⁸.

　　And he talked about the investigation.

　　Judy, it's so interesting to hear Republicans defend Hillary Clinton now.

　　And that's — a reason that may have been believable when Donald Trump took office on January 20.

　　But since Donald Trump took office, the FBI director has told Congress and the American people that the president's campaign is under a criminal and counterintelligence investigation.

　　So, this is nothing more than taking the headrest off the court, and people should see it exactly as that.

　　But the president does have the right, the authority to remove the FBI director. Is that not right?

　　He does. And the Senate, of course, will be, you know, a part of a future FBI director's confirmation⁹.

　　However, past presidents have shown restraint in removing FBI directors when their administrations were under investigation.

　　And the fact that this president could not demonstrate that, I think, says a lot about how fearful he is about where this FBI director was going.

　　But, again, to the point that both the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, made in the letter he put out and this — and, again,

　　I was just quoting, poorly quoting Senator Susan Collins — their point is that what the FBI director did violated longstanding principles and, therefore, he left himself open for this sort of judgment¹⁰.

　　And, again, Judy, that is something that we didn't hear from any Republican when the FBI director made those statements or sent that letter.

　　So, for that to be the reason now, again, it is too late.

　　The FBI director is in the middle of an investigation into the president's campaign, and to pull him off this investigation is very, very disturbing for our democracy.

　　Finally, Congressman — we're talking with Congressman Eric Swalwell of California, a Democrat¹ of California — what do you expect will happen next?

　　Have you have had a chance to talk to other members of Congress about what the next steps are here?

　　No. And, right now, Judy, we're piecing all of this together to see what we can do to preserve the integrity of the FBI's investigation

　　and also make sure that our own House investigation is one that is still independent, credible¹¹, and makes progress.

　　Well, and that — and I do want to ask you about that just quickly, because I asked Susan — Senator Collins about whether she had confidence that the Justice Department,

　　the FBI could continue to carry out the investigation into possible connections between the Trump campaign and Russian officials.

　　She said she does have that confidence. What would you answer be?

　　Well, right now, the attorney general is recused on any Russian investigation.

　　Now we are without an FBI director, so I am very, very worried that the president's desire to see this investigation, which he called a hoax¹² just yesterday on Twitter, is, He's going to try and bury it.

　　And we must do everything we can to keep light shining on what happened with Russia's interference and make sure any U.S. persons who were involved are held accountable.

　　Representative Eric Swalwell of California, member of the House Intelligence Committee, Congressman, thank you very much for talking with us.

　　My pleasure. undefined

1 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。

2 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

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 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。

5 outspoken   

adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的

参考例句：

• He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
• She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。

6 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

7 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？

8 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。

9 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。

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 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

12 hoax   

v.欺骗，哄骗，愚弄；n.愚弄人，恶作剧

参考例句：

• They were the victims of a cruel hoax.他们是一个残忍恶作剧的受害者。
• They hoax him out of his money.他们骗去他的钱。