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Bush plea for privacy
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女儿违反饮酒法 布什强调隐私权
THE White House stonewalled (拒不回答) questions about President Bush's twin daughters yesterday as police continued to investigate Jenna Bush's attempt to buy alcohol for her sister and herself using someone else's identification card(身份证).
“The President views this as a family matter and private matter and will treat it as such,” Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, insisted in the face of huge media interest in the 19-year-old First Daughter's latest transgression(1).
If police in Austin, Texas, do press charges Miss Bush faces potentially serious penalties(处罚) as she was put on probation(受到察看处分) only two weeks ago for underage drinking(未成年饮酒). John Wall, the lawyer who prosecuted her then, said that the authorities could seek a conviction(定罪) that would remain on her record(2), a suspension(吊销) of her driving licence, a fine of up to US$500 and 40 hours of community service.
For a third offence Miss Bush could face a US$2,000 fine and six months in prison.
A spokesman for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which is jointly investigating the twins, insisted that the case was being handled in exactly the same way as any other. “It's by the book(3), I promise you that,” David Ball said. “If anything it's probably harder for these girls. They get recognised too easily now(4).”
Witnesses said that Jenna Bush tried to order margaritas(酒名) shortly after 10pm, but was recognised by the barman. “You think I'm going to put my liquor licence on the line for you?(5)” he asked her, and telephoned the police using the equivalent of a 999 call.
“She had this ‘how-dare-you-do-this-to-me’ look(6) on her face, like she couldn't believe someone would tell her no,” one employee said.
Tens of thousands of students live in Austin, where the legal drinking age is 21, and the Alcoholic Beverage Commission has ten officers searching actively for violators(违反者).
For Jenna Bush's previous offence, drinking in an Austin bar while underage, she was ordered to do eight hours of community service and attend six hours of alcohol awareness classes.
Twenty-one is the legal drinking age across America. Technically it is illegal for parents to give their children alcohol in their homes, but prosecutions are almost unknown(7).
Notes:
1. latest transgression:此处指最近一次非法买酒事件。
2. remain on one's record:记录在案。
3. 此处指依法办事。
4. 即由于她们是总统之女，很引人注目。
5. 你想我会让自己因为你而被吊销卖酒执照吗?
6. 一副“你怎么敢对我这样”的神情。
7. 指几乎没有父母因为给子女酒而被起诉这样的事发生。
The Times, June 1, 2001
The Times, June 1, 2001
The Times, June 1, 2001
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