A Democratic US senator was silenced by Senate Republicans after she read out a letter written by the widow of Martin Luther King Jr.
Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren read the 30-year-old correspondence from Coretta Scott King during a debate over Senator Jeff Sessions, President Donald Trump's nomination for attorney general.
The letter was from the date of Mr Sessions' failed judicial nomination three decades ago.
King wrote in 1986 that Mr Sessions, when acting as federal prosecutor, used his power to “chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens”.
Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader, said Ms Warren had broken senate rules by “impugning the motives and conduct” of Mr Sessions.
Senators then voted 49-43 to uphold a ruling in his favour.
Ms Warren posted to her 1.74 million followers on Twitter: “Tonight @SenateMajLdr silenced Mrs King’s voice on the Sen floor - & millions who are afraid & appalled by what’s happening in our country.”
On Tuesday night, she read the letter on Facebook Live, and wrote: “During the debate on whether to make Jeff Sessions the next Attorney General, I tried to read a letter from Coretta Scott King on the floor of the Senate.
“The letter, from 30 years ago, urged the Senate to reject the nomination of Jeff Sessions to a federal judgeship.
“The Republicans took away my right to read this letter on the floor - so I’m right outside, reading it now.”
Since his nomination Mr Sessions, senator for Alabama, had been dogged by allegations that he attempted to suppress black votes in Alabama.
The Democratic National Committee said in a statement it was 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".
Ms Warren is now forbidden from speaking on the floor for the remainder of the debate. A vote on Mr Sessions is expected on Wednesday.
