Why are the 'strike force' and 'FBI' mentioned in the passage?

[sky753]

Hello Everyone,

The following passage is taken from the argument of the trial of former American Federal Judge Harry E. Claiborne from the tapescript of my textbook? I would like to know here why Harry's defendant cite 'strike force' and 'FBI' as according to my understaning and also the Chinese Judiciary proceedings,normally it is the Justice department that is in charge of a trial.

The paragraph is as follows:

...'He has been couaght in the vortex of a constitutional crisis , a situation that has to affect every member of this body, becuase , God forbid, it could happen to them where Judge Claiborne became victimized as a result of a vendetta of the Justice Department, and the strike force and a special agen in chage of the FBI who came to the Nevada desert to bury the American flag there.'...

Also in the passage, what does God forbid mean here? And what is the usage of the metaphor 'bury American flag' and ' Nevada desert' ? Does it mean that Harry E. Claiborne's being convicted of a tax evader had damaged American constitution?

Regards

Sky

[oregeezer]

I am not familiar with the case but the Congressional Record has:

Records Relating to the Impeachment of Judge Harry E. Claiborne

22.37. For the first time since 1935, the Senate held in 1986 an impeachment trial for a Federal official, Judge Harry E. Claiborne of the District of Nevada. In 1984, Judge Claiborne has been convicted in Federal Court of income tax fraud. A specially appointed committee, chaired by Charles McC. Mathias of Maryland, heard testimony on the four articles of impeachment voted by the House. On October 9, 1986, Judge Claiborne was convicted on three of the four articles and removed from office.

22.38. The records of the impeachment (7 ft.) were maintained by the Committee on Rules and Administration and include transcripts of open and closed hearings and committee meetings; pleadings filed by the House of Representatives and Judge Clairborne; copies of testimony from Claiborne's two District Court trials; legal files containing the indictment, appellate decisions, and Internal Revenue Service decisions relevant to Claiborne's trials, material relating to impeachment precedents; and administrative correspondence and other records. There is also one computer tape containing the text of executive session transcripts.

Since he was found guilty of Income Tax evasion I would have thought that he would loose his judgeship. Apparently as a federal court appointee he had 'lifetime office" and there needed to be a congressional impeachment to remove him from the bench.

To your questions:
'FBI' and 'strike force' might be involved in the investigation for the congresional impeachment hearing. The trial for Income Tax evasion would have been in the Federal District court and that investigation would have been done by Special Agents of the IRS.

Bury the American flag - a derisive reference to bringing an FBI task force to the area; a positive citation would most likely say 'plant the flag'. The "Nevada desert" - most of the state is desert country.

Hope that helps.

[sky753]

I am not familiar with the case but the Congressional Record has:

Records Relating to the Impeachment of Judge Harry E. Claiborne

22.37. For the first time since 1935, the Senate held in 1986 an impeachment trial for a Federal official, Judge Harry E. Claiborne of the District of Nevada. In 1984, Judge Claiborne has been convicted in Federal Court of income tax fraud. A specially appointed committee, chaired by Charles McC. Mathias of Maryland, heard testimony on the four articles of impeachment voted by the House. On October 9, 1986, Judge Claiborne was convicted on three of the four articles and removed from office.

22.38. The records of the impeachment (7 ft.) were maintained by the Committee on Rules and Administration and include transcripts of open and closed hearings and committee meetings; pleadings filed by the House of Representatives and Judge Clairborne; copies of testimony from Claiborne's two District Court trials; legal files containing the indictment, appellate decisions, and Internal Revenue Service decisions relevant to Claiborne's trials, material relating to impeachment precedents; and administrative correspondence and other records. There is also one computer tape containing the text of executive session transcripts.

Since he was found guilty of Income Tax evasion I would have thought that he would loose his judgeship. Apparently as a federal court appointee he had 'lifetime office" and there needed to be a congressional impeachment to remove him from the bench.

To your questions:
'FBI' and 'strike force' might be involved in the investigation for the congresional impeachment hearing. The trial for Income Tax evasion would have been in the Federal District court and that investigation would have been done by Special Agents of the IRS.

Bury the American flag - a derisive reference to bringing an FBI task force to the area; a positive citation would most likely say 'plant the flag'. The "Nevada desert" - most of the state is desert country.

Hope that helps.

Many thanks for your reply, I had thought no one would answer this post!

I would like to know what IRS stands for here? With regards to 'Bury the American flag', combined with your answer, I presume here that the phrase could have two layers of meaning, one posssible meaning is that 'FBI' and 'Strike Force' went to Nevada, where Harry lived, to investigate the case. The connotation of 'bury American flag' here is ruining American legislation, which is represented by American flag, as Harry' defendant thought Harry's conviction was actually a vendata, that would make inroad into American Judiciary justice in the long run．　Ｉf my presumption is right , then what is the name of the rhetoric method applied here?

Regards

Sky

[Anglika]

Internal Revenue Service