NPR美国国家公共电台 2013-05-15

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　　From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

 

　　The Justice Department is ordering a criminal investigation¹ into reports that the IRS targeted conservative groups for extra scrutiny², it applied³ for tax-exempt status. Attorney General Eric Holder⁴ says the DOJ is coordinating⁵ with the FBI to find out if any laws were broken. The IRS concedes its agents acted inappropriately in its practice ahead of last year's elections but maintains it was not motivated by politics. However, the Republican leadership isn't buying it. NPR's Tamara Keith reports Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is demanding more accountability from the Obama administration.

 

　　Only scratching the surface, that's how McConnell described for what is now known about the unfolding IRS scandal and he is calling on the president to make available anyone who may have answers about how the IRS handled applications from so-called social welfare groups.

 

　　No more misleading responses, no holding back witnesses, no matter how senior their current or former positions.

 

　　Majority Leader Harry⁶ Reid agrees a full investigation is needed, but he says it should also look into the use of 501C4 status by groups with explicitly⁷ political missions. Attorney General Eric Holder says he has ordered an investigation into whether criminal activity took place at the IRS. Tamara Keith, NPR News, the Capitol.

 

　　At the White House, Press Secretary Jay Carney urged the public to withhold⁸ judgement until all the facts were clear.

 

　　We have not seen the report, we have not, you know, independently collected information about what transpired⁹. We need the independent inspector¹⁰ general's report to be released before we can make judgements.

 

　　Carney also faced tough questioning from the White House Press Corps¹¹ about the Justice Department's decision to seize the work and phone records of reporters at the Associated Press of which NPR's a member. The administration defended the decision saying it needed to investigate what Attorney General Holder called a very serious leak about an operation involving in al-Qaeda plot. But AP's chief executive called it a mass of an unprecedented¹² intrusion.

 

　　The administration is also dealing¹³ with news that Russia is expelling a U.S. embassy officer suspected working for the CIA in attempting to recruit a Russian agent. NPR's Michele Kelemen has more on that.

 

　　The Russian foreign ministry¹⁴ says Ryan Fogle, a third secretary in the U.S. embassy, was declared persona non grata after he was detained with what Moscow calls a classic spy arsenal¹⁵ and lots of cash. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell was tight lipped about the case and wouldn't say if Fogle as the Russians claim works for the CIA.

 

　　All I can confirm for you is that a member of our mission was briefly¹⁶ detained and released.

 

　　The news broke just as the U.S. ambassador was answering questions on Twitter. Michael McFaul received many Twits about the case, but he didn't respond those. He has been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, Washington.

 

　　Before the closing bell, Dow was up 123 points.

 

　　This is NPR News.

 

　　Workers are said to begin demolishing¹⁷ what's left of the JetStar roller coaster, once an icon¹⁸ of the New Jersey¹⁹ coastline. It was knocked off its pier²⁰ and into the water. It became a symbol of super storm Sandy's devastation²¹. NPR's Margot Adler has more.

 

　　It will take about four days to remove the debris²² from the coaster with crews working around the clock in Seaside Heights New Jersey. The roller coaster plunged²³ off the pier during the storm last October. Casino Pier official signed a contract with Weeks Marine²⁴ of Cranford, New Jersey to remove the JetStar and other debris. Weeks Marine will also handle under water salvage²⁵ as well as demolishing of upper deck of the pier. It's not clear how long the work will take nor the cost. But the lower deck of the pier and limited rides will be back in action by memorial day. Margot Adler, NPR News.

 

　　A new government estimate says a budget deficit²⁶ for the current year will come in far below previous projections²⁷. The Congressional Budget Office study predicting today a 2013 budget deficit of 642 billion that's more than $200 billion below its February estimate.

 

　　More global retailers²⁹ are signing onto a safety plan for Bangladesh's garment workers weeks after a factory collapsed³⁰ in Dhaka and killed more than 1,100 people. Benetton is the latest retailer²⁸ to join the pact³¹ that calls for more rigorous safety inspections³².

 

　　Before the close, Dow was up 123 points at 15,250; NASDAQ Composite Index up 24 at 3,463; and the S&P 500 up 16 at 1,650.

 

　　This is NPR News.

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