Yesterday, Senator Elizabeth Warren was silenced on the floor of the U.S. Senate Chambers as she attempted to read a letter written by Coretta Scott King. Mrs King, the wife of Martin Luther King, Jr, had written the letter thirty years ago to oppose the nomination of Jeff Sessions to the federal judiciary. Session's nomination was eventually voted down by the Senate nominating committee and President Ronald Reagan withdrew his name from consideration. Now, he has been nominated by Trump to be Attorney General of the United States.
Senator Warren was silenced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who used a rarely used rule that forbids senators to impugn other senators on the senate floor. Ms Warren has since been banned from involvement with Session's nomination process.
However, other senators were allowed today to read from Coretta Scott King's letter. What happened? Why were they allowed to read Mrs King's letter and not Warren? I think it's pretty obvious. The senators allowed to read from the letter are men. Elizabeth Warren not only was criticizing a Republican nominee...she is a woman.
Of course, Mitch McConnell's blatant sexism and censorship has backfired. The King letter has been read and published all over the world today. It concerns me anytime someone is silenced. You may disagree with someone, but in the United States Senate, opposing views are allowed to be respectfully expressed. That concept is a bedrock of the American legislative process. I would be just as angry if the Democratic Party silenced a Republican on the Senate floor in this manner.
Here is the text of Mrs King's letter that got Senator Warren silenced...
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
