VOA慢速英语2017--美国参议员因性侵指控而辞职

American Senator to Resign After Accusations¹ of Sexual Wrongdoing

American Senator Al Franken of Minnesota said he will resign from Congress in the coming weeks. The Democrat² announced his decision Thursday.

Over several weeks, eight women have accused Franken of sexual wrongdoing. Democratic lawmakers pressured him to resign because of the reports.

“I may be resigning my seat, but I am not giving up my voice,” Franken said in the Senate chamber³.

Before he became a senator, Franken was a comedian⁴ and cast member of the television show, “Saturday Night Live.” He had gained respect as a serious lawmaker in recent years. Some people were considering Franken as a possible candidate for president in 2020.

On Wednesday morning, a woman said Franken used force to try to kiss her in 2006. Franken strongly denied the report. Hours later, another woman said Franken held part of her body inappropriately while taking a photograph with her in 2009.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said Wednesday, “Enough is enough,” in reaction to the latest accusations. Gillibrand is also a Democrat.

She said “We need to draw a line in the sand and say none of it is OK, none of it is acceptable.” She also said the behavior of elected leaders should be held to a higher standard.

Several Democrats⁵ quickly followed Gillibrand’s call for Franken to resign, including Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Senate Democrats.

Franken has admitted to some of the accusations of sexual wrongdoing and apologized. But he strongly denies the latest accusations.

“I know in my heart that nothing I have done as a senator — nothing — has brought dishonor on this institution,” Franken said Thursday.

Franken noted⁶ that he was being forced out while President Donald Trump⁷ remains⁸ in office. Several women have accused Trump of sexual wrongdoing. The president was also recorded years ago talking about grabbing women sexually.

“I, of all people, am aware that there is some irony⁹ in the fact that I am leaving while a man who has bragged¹¹ on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office and a man who has repeatedly preyed¹³ on young girls, campaigns for the Senate with the full support of his party,” Franken said.

Trump has given his support to that campaign, in which Republican Roy Moore is seeking to represent the state of Alabama. Several women have reported that Moore sexually harassed¹⁴ them when they were teenagers and he was a state official. The candidate has denied all accusations of sexual wrongdoing.

The pressure on Franken to leave the Senate increased this week after the resignation of Representative John Conyers. The House lawmaker, a Democrat from Michigan, resigned following several reports of sexual wrongdoing.

The accusations against Franken began in November. Leeann Tweeden, now a Los Angeles radio announcer, accused him of forcibly kissing and touching¹⁵ her in 2006.

I'm Caty Weaver¹⁶.

Words in This Story

chamber - n. a large room where members of a legislature meet

a line in the sand - idiom, a limit to what one will accept or a point beyond which one will not go

standard - n. a level of quality or achievement that is considered desirable

institution - n. an established organization

irony - n. a situation that is strange because things happen in the opposite of what you expect

brag¹⁰ - v. to talk about yourself in a way that show too much pride

prey¹² - v. to hurt someone

1 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

2 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。

3 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

4 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

5 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 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。

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

9 irony   

n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄

参考例句：

• She said to him with slight irony.她略带嘲讽地对他说。
• In her voice we could sense a certain tinge of irony.从她的声音里我们可以感到某种讥讽的意味。

10 brag   

v./n.吹牛，自夸；adj.第一流的

参考例句：

• He made brag of his skill.他夸耀自己技术高明。
• His wealth is his brag.他夸张他的财富。

11 bragged   

v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He bragged to his friends about the crime. 他向朋友炫耀他的罪行。
• Mary bragged that she could run faster than Jack. 玛丽夸口说她比杰克跑得快。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

13 preyed   

v.掠食( prey的过去式和过去分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生

参考例句：

• Remorse preyed upon his mind. 悔恨使他内心痛苦。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He had been unwise and it preyed on his conscience. 他做得不太明智，这一直让他良心不安。 来自辞典例句

14 harassed   

adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He has complained of being harassed by the police. 他投诉受到警方侵扰。
• harassed mothers with their children 带着孩子的疲惫不堪的母亲们

15 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

16 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。