Elizabeth Warren silenced over US Senate criticism of Sessions

Democratic US Senator Elizabeth Warren was silenced by Senate Republicans on Tuesday after reading a letter written by the widow of Martin Luther King Jr.

The 30-year-old letter criticised Jeff Sessions, President Donald Trump's nomination for attorney general.

Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader, said Ms Warren had broken senate rules by impugning the conduct of another senator.

She subsequently read Coretta Scott King's letter live on Facebook.

The incident occurred during a debate in the senate on the nomination of Mr Sessions. Mr McConnell's objection to Ms Warren's speech was put to a vote and senators voted 49-43 in his favour.

Ms Warren described what happened in a comment alongside her Facebook video: "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."