Quoting King technically put Warren in violation of Senate rules for "impugning the motives" of Sessions, though senators have said far worse. And Warren was reading from a letter that was written 10 years before Sessions was even elected to the Senate.Dear Senator Thurmond:I write to express my sincere opposition to the confirmation of Jefferson B. Sessions as a federal district court judge for the Southern District of Alabama. My professional and personal roots in Alabama are deep and lasting. Anyone who has used the power of his office as United States Attorney to intimidate and chill the free exercise of the ballot by citizens should not be elevated to our courts. Mr. Sessions has used the awesome powers of his office in a shabby attempt to intimidate and frighten elderly black voters. For this reprehensible conduct, he should not be rewarded with a federal judgeship.I regret that a long-standing commitment prevents me from appearing in person to testify against this nominee. However, I have attached a copy of my statement opposing Mr. Sessions’ confirmation and I request that my statement as well as this be made a part of the hearing record.I do sincerely urge you to oppose the confirmation of Mr. Sessions.Sincerely,Coretta Scott King
Still,
top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell invoked the rules. After a few
parliamentary moves, the GOP-controlled Senate voted to back him up.
Now, Warren is forbidden from speaking again on Sessions' nomination. A vote on Sessions is expected Wednesday evening.
Democrats
seized on the flap to charge that Republicans were muzzling Warren,
sparking liberals to take to Twitter to post the King letter in its
entirety.
Warren
argued: "I'm reading a letter from Coretta Scott King to the Judiciary
Committee from 1986 that was admitted into the record. I'm simply
reading what she wrote about what the nomination of Jeff Sessions to be a
federal court judge meant and what it would mean in history for her." (Continues at Time)
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