Second protester interrupts Sotomayor hearing

The confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor was interrupted for a second time Monday morning by the outburst of an anti-abortion-rights protester.

“Abortion is murder!” yelled a protester, who was pulled quickly from the hearing room by U.S. Capitol Police.

“The officer will remove the person! The officer will remove the person!” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) declared into his microphone, speaking over the protester and banging his gavel.

The outburst interrupted the opening statement of Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Another protester had interrupted the statement of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) earlier in the session.