2016届高考英语高分冲刺特训听力素材3（word版）35_高考复习指南

2016届高考英语高分冲刺特训听力素材3（word版）35

　　The first impeachment proceeding in the United States Senate in fifty years began today, the trial of Federal Judge Harry E. Claiborne of Nevada. Judge Claiborne is a convicted felon, now serving a prison term for income tax evasion. He has refused to resign from the bench and has demanded a trial in the Senate, the only constitutional means of removing a federal judge from office. NPR's Linda Wertheimer is following that trial.

　　Early this morning, the presiding officer of the Senate, who was at that time Senator Charles Grassley, Republican of Iowa, summoned Senators to a historic occasion, a trial in the Senate. The Senate will now proceed, he said, as a court of impeachment.

　　"The Sergeant at Arms will make the proclamation."

　　"All persons are commanded to keep silence, on pain of imprisonment while the House of Representatives is exhibiting the Senate of the United States articles of impeachment against Judge harry E. Claiborne."

　　That was the Sergeant at Arms, Ernest Garcia, who then rang the bells for the Senators to appear for a live quorum. At least fifty-one members of the Senate must be present during this trial. As the Senators filed in, they saw sitting at long tables in the well of the Senate the prosecution and the defense. The prosecutors are members of the House who exhibit in the constitutional term the articles of impeachment to the Senate. The defense, Judge Claiborne and his attorneys, including a former Senator, Howard Cannon of Nevada. The two tables face the one hundred desks of the Senators who will serve as judge and jury in this trial. The attorney for the defense led off with some prefatory remarks. Oscar Goodman told the Senate that Judge Claiborne insisted on this trial because he believes that he is innocent. But the center of the argument made by Judge Claiborne's attorney is that the judge was rail-roaded into prison by over enthusiastic prosecution.