Republicans vote to silence Elizabeth Warren for reading Coretta Scott King letter while debating Jeff Sessions' nomination

Republicans voted to silence Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts on Tuesday night, during a Senate floor debate over Sen. Jeff Sessions’ nomination as President Donald Trump’s attorney general.

Warren, who is among the Democratic senators opposing Sessions’ appointment, attempted to read from a 1986 letter written by Coretta Scott King, the wife of civil-rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stopped Warren, alleging her recitation of the letter violated Senate rule 19, which forbids conduct “unbecoming” of a senator.

The letter Warren read was written by King in opposition to Sessions, who in 1986 was nominated as a federal judge in Alabama. At the time, King wrote that Sessions was unfit for the position, alleging he sought “politically-motivated voting fraud prosecutions” and describing Sessions as lacking the “temperament, judgment, and fairness” to be a federal judge.

After McConnell called for Warren to stop reading from the letter, Warren challenged the motion.

"I am surprised that the words of Coretta Scott King are not suitable for debate in the United States Senate," Warren said. She asked to be given space to continue her remarks, but was ultimately voted down.

Warren said later on CNN, "They can shut me up, but they can't change the truth."

Watch the exchange below:

The Democratic National Committee issued this statement:

"It's a sad day in America when the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s widow are not allowed on the floor of the United States Senate. Let Elizabeth Warren speak. The American people deserve to hear how Jeff Sessions is an extremist who will be a rubber stamp for this out-of-control Trump presidency."

The proceedings follow what has been a contentious confirmation process for a number of Trump's Cabinet nominees. His newly confirmed education secretary, Betsy DeVos, was the subject of a similar all-night Senate session Monday, during which Democratic lawmakers held the floor to oppose her confirmation.

The move was unsuccessful. Vice President Mike Pence cast a tiebreaking vote Tuesday, officially confirming DeVos. She was sworn in later Tuesday.

Lawmakers have expressed concern about Sessions' vocal support of Trump, prompting questions about whether he would remain neutral if he were confirmed as attorney general.