McConnell Cuts Off Warren to Reprimand Her for Slamming Sessions, Calling It Violation of Senate Rule
Senator Elizabeth Warren was reprimanded on the Senate floor tonight for a speech she delivered railing against Senate colleague and Attorney General Nominee Jeff Sessions.
At issue here was her quoting of incredibly critical words that Ted Kennedy and Coretta Scott King used in the past to oppose Sessions when he was up for a judgeship in the ’80s. (You can read King’s letter here.)
Warren was initially warned not to impugn another senator’s motives by Senator Steve Daines, the presiding officer tonight, in violation of Rule 19 of the Senate, which, in part, says this:
No Senator in debate shall, directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator.
Warren expressed some bewilderment that quoting King and Kennedy “is a violation of Senate rules.”
Daines said that it is, and he just warned her to be aware of this rule.
Warren continued, but a little over 20 minutes later, as she kept reading, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell interjected and said she has “impugned the motives and conduct of our colleague from Alabama.”
He invoked Rule 19, and Warren immediately responded, “I am surprised that the words of Coretta Scott King are not suitable for debate in the United States Senate. I ask leave of the Senate to continue my remarks.”
McConnell immediately objected and Daines told Warren to take her seat. Warren immediately appealed the ruling.
The Senate eventually took a vote and voted 49-43 upholding the ruling that she violated Rule 19.
Later in the evening, Warren took to Twitter to denounce what occurred, and her Democratic colleagues joined in to get #LetLizSpeak going:
Tonight on the Senate floor, I tried to speak about why @SenatorSessions is totally unfit to serve as Attorney General.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 8, 2017
On the floor, I read a letter that Coretta Scott King wrote in 1986 opposing @SenatorSessions‘s judicial nomination: https://t.co/mnACXekh8f
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 8, 2017
I spoke out about @SenatorSessions – until @SenateMajLdr McConnell decided to silence me. https://t.co/qbty7x0iLl
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 8, 2017
I will not be silent about a nominee for AG who has made derogatory & racist comments that have no place in our justice system.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 8, 2017
I will not be silent while the Republicans rubber stamp an AG who will never stand up to the @POTUS when he breaks the law.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 8, 2017
Tonight @SenateMajLdr silenced Mrs King’s voice on the Sen floor – & millions who are afraid & appalled by what’s happening in our country.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 8, 2017
.@SenateMajLdr won’t #LetLizSpeak because he can’t deny what Coretta Scott King had to say about Senator Sessions #StopSessions pic.twitter.com/pS1l6CklTJ
— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) February 8, 2017
It’s unacceptable & inappropriate that @SenWarren was stopped from reading a letter by Coretta Scott King on the Senate floor #LetLizSpeak pic.twitter.com/etP0ZCQlAy
— Sen. Maggie Hassan (@SenatorHassan) February 8, 2017
This letter caused the GOP to silence @SenWarren tonight. Rt if you think they should #LetLizSpeak https://t.co/YSdugxE6Kr
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 8, 2017
#letlizspeak https://t.co/YL9DMPUHme
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) February 8, 2017
The suggestion that reciting the words of the great Coretta Scott King by @SenWarren is an attack on a Senator is outrageous. #LetHerSpeak
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 8, 2017
Meanwhile, Senator Orrin Hatch posted this to Twitter:
Rule 19. pic.twitter.com/PZnjfUrMrG
— Senator Hatch Office (@SenOrrinHatch) February 8, 2017
Additional text of Senate rules, including rule 19, which Senator Warren just violated. https://t.co/xap751vvv0 #tcot pic.twitter.com/ltJWpV6PyK
— Senator Hatch Office (@SenOrrinHatch) February 8, 2017
You can watch Warren being warned by Daines and then reprimanded by McConnell in the video above, via C-SPAN 2.
[image via screengrab]
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