【生词摘录】
prosecutor n.检举人
independent n.中立派，无党派者 adj.独立主义的，不受约束的
officeholder n.公务员，职员，官员
sack n.大袋，大袋之量，麻布袋，洗劫 vt.解雇，装入袋，洗劫，就寝
ignite v.点火，点燃
accusation n.谴责，指控
firestorm n.大爆发
intimidation n.胁迫
credibility n.可靠性
US Senators Question Attorney General's Credibility(1/2)
The controversy surrounds the Justice Department's decision to fire eight federal prosecutors, who were appointed by the president. Six are known to be members of his Republican Party, while it is believed the other two are political independents. Usually, the hiring and firing of federal attorneys takes place with little public notice. Not this time.
The White House maintains the eight were sacked for poor performance. But the fired attorneys say they were told to leave for purely political reasons, in some cases because they did not follow requests from Republican officeholders to launch aggressive investigations against Democratic Party opponents.
That accusation has ignited a political firestorm in Washington, with Democrats accusing the White House of using the federal attorneys as part of a campaign of intimidation that could undermine the credibility of the federal justice system.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has insisted he played no role in the firings. But new evidence emerged Friday indicating he took part in at least one meeting where they were discussed.
