Sen. Elizabeth Warren drew objections from Republicans for reading Coretta Scott King's critical letter and charged her with violating a Senate rule against impugning the character of another senator. | AP Photo Senate Democrats echo Warren on the floor, baiting GOP

Elizabeth Warren's fellow Democrats are taking to the Senate floor to read the same letter criticizing attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions that got Warren formally chastised by the GOP — but drawing no similar objections so far as they push back against her rare rebuke.

At least five Democrats have uttered the same passage on the Senate floor from Coretta Scott King's 1986 statement against Sessions' federal judge nomination that got Warren punished: Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall, Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats.


The Democrats' move intensifies an already polarized debate over confirming Sessions, an Alabama Republican who lost his bid to join the federal bench following controversy over his civil rights record, but who is on track to win confirmation Wednesday to lead the Justice Department.

Warren drew objections from Republicans for reading King's critical letter and charged her with violating a Senate rule against impugning the character of another senator; she was silenced from speaking further during the Sessions debate after Republicans cast a party-line vote against her on Tuesday night.

Warren's punishment was "an outrage," Sanders said in his speech quoting from the King letter. "I want the American people to make a decision whether or not we should be able to look at Sen. Sessions' record and be able to hear from one of the heroines of the civil rights movement."

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) defended Sessions in a Wednesday floor speech, illustrating the GOP's deep frustration with Democrats, who have delayed President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees even though they do not have the votes to defeat them.

"It’s been tough to watch all this good man has been put through in recent weeks," McConnell said. "This is a well-qualified colleague with a deep reverence for the law."

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) accused Republicans of holding Warren to a double standard by refusing to let her quote King's criticism of Sessions while staying largely silent as Trump attacks the federal judge who temporarily suspended his travel ban — as well as the media and a Texas state legislator who opposes the law enforcement practice known as asset forfeiture.

"I certainly hope this anti-free-speech attitude is not traveling down Pennsylvania Avenue to our great chamber," Schumer said in a floor speech.

North Dakota Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp came out against Sessions Wednesday morning, but his approval as attorney general later Wednesday is not in doubt. His supporters include West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin and a united GOP.