Sen. Dianne Feinstein Rejects Calls to Resign After Being Sidelined With Shingles
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Longtime California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said she would temporarily leave the Judiciary Committee but not resign from the Senate, responding to pressure from some fellow Democrats to step down rather than serve out the rest of her final term.
Mrs. Feinstein underwent treatment for shingles in February and has been absent from the Senate since then, missing dozens of votes, and hasn’t provided a timeline for returning to Washington, fueling speculation about her plans. In her statement Wednesday, she said she had intended to get back to the Capitol in March but had been delayed by medical complications.
“I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that it’s safe for me to travel,” Mrs. Feinstein said. “In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco,” she said.
She said she told Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) to temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee, where her absence has held up progress on some judicial nominees. Any such move would require approval by the Senate.
A spokesman for Mr. Schumer said the majority leader would “ask the Senate next week to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve on the Judiciary Committee.”
Mrs. Feinstein’s statement on her plans came after two fellow Democrats in Congress said she should retire.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D., Calif.), who represents Silicon Valley, was the first to publicly call for her to resign. “While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties,” he tweeted Wednesday. “Not speaking out undermines our credibility as elected representatives of the people.”
Rep. Dean Phillips (D., Minn.) tweeted that he agreed with Mr. Khanna. He said Mrs. Feinstein, who is 89 years old, is “a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. But I believe it’s now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate.”
Mrs. Feinstein announced earlier this year she wouldn’t run for re-election but said she would serve the rest of her term. The announcement cleared the way for what is expected to be a fiercely competitive fight in 2024 among fellow Democrats for her seat. Reps. Katie Porter, Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee have announced their candidacies. Mr. Khanna has backed Ms. Lee in the race and serves as co-chairman of her campaign.
Mrs. Feinstein had faced questions in recent years about whether she was still up to serving in the Senate, and her illness this year renewed questions about whether she should resign before her term ends in January 2025. Her absence from the Judiciary Committee has held up some nominees from getting votes in the panel, which had sparked speculation that she might step down from the committee but remain in the Senate.
A representative for Ms. Porter didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Ms. Porter said in a recent MSNBC interview that Mrs. Feinstein should relinquish her post on the Judiciary Committee. A spokeswoman for Ms. Lee said “the congresswoman’s primary concern is for Sen. Feinstein’s health” and a quick recovery. A spokeswoman for Mr. Schiff said he wishes the senator a fast recovery and that both he and Mrs. Feinstein strongly believe confirming judges “is paramount, and he knows that she’ll do everything to get back as soon as possible.”
Mrs. Feinstein, after serving as the first woman mayor of San Francisco, was elected to the Senate in a special election in 1992, making her the first woman to represent California in the Senate.
If Mrs. Feinstein were to quit the Senate, under California state law, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom would appoint someone to serve as senator until the next election.
When then-Sen. Kamala Harris vacated her seat to become vice president in 2021, Mr. Newsom appointed longtime friend and ally Alex Padilla to take over the post. He became the state’s first Latino representative in the U.S. Senate. He was elected to a full term in 2022.
Mr. Newsom has said that if another vacancy arose, he would choose a Black woman for the seat. Currently, Ms. Lee is the only prominent Black woman in the Senate race.
Mr. Newsom’s office declined to comment.
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"Rep. Dean Phillips (D., Minn.) tweeted that he agreed with Mr. Khanna. He said Mrs. Feinstein, who is 89 years old, is “a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. But I believe it’s now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate.”
Of course there is one little thing missing here. You see, in the US Senate members have to be present to vote among other things. Joe Biden's radical unhinged list of judicial nominees can't quite get across the finish line without every hand on deck. Thus, the need for democrats to oust Feinstein.
If she was 69 there would be no issue, but she's 89 and going to turn 90 in a couple months. She is not the same as she was a few years ago. She should resign immediately.
Shouldn't the voters decide?
Is it a case of legislation without representation if she can't preform her duties? The voters put her in office to do a job and if she can't do that job the voters can put someone else there by special election.
Lets see how objective you are Vic. If they get 60 votes in the Senate, Feinstein can be replaced temporarily by another Democrat on the Judiciary committee (which she has requested). If there isnt a 60 vote majority she cant be replaced.
Should 10 Republicans vote to allow her to be replaced on the committee until she is healthy enough to return?
She has the shingles. Why should she resign if she dosen't want to?
The Republicans should vote the exact same way democrats would if the situation were reversed.
So we see the sham nature of your opinion on Feinstein. You object to her resignation not because of anything specifically related to her, but rather because her continued absence prevents the confirmation of judges you dont approve of. Case closed.
So?
This is a different question than what I answered previously. No one can make her resign if she doesn't want to.
The same could be said about joe. He should resign immediately
She should take her time and get completely well.
Do you have a problem with elderly people?
Harris is the reason Joe can't resign. As much as they hate Joe, they hate Harris even more.
LOL. Like you give a darn about her.
You mean her FORCED resignation. I told you: It is up to her and the voters.
An indefensible argument always collapses.
Case closed!
We finally are in agreement!
Yet fetterman stays.
Democrats hate women
I meant it as sarcasm. Stay alert.
Only you
Apparently Mrs Feinstein does not comprehend there is no cure for dementia/senility. She should just go ahead and resign all together and retain what dignity she still has.
That is also lost on those who voted for Biden.
She should just go ahead and resign all together and retain what dignity she still has.
I guess she has every right to call in sick. McConnell has been out for 5 weeks.
Are these idiots implying that they will dictate who would take Feinstein's seat in the Senate?
They want Adam (the habitual liar) Schiff
They still see Adam "Shifty" Schiff and Jerry "No Nads" Nadler as a winning combo.
One needs a bib and the other a diaper.
And not a funtional brain cell between them.
If either Manchin or Sinema finally get fed up with the direction the Democrat party is going down and switch parties, the stupid Dems are totally screwed.
They're already DINOs stupid CONS
Sinema has already bailed on the Democratic Party and is now a registered Independent. Can't be considered a DINO if she don't belong to the party any more. I see Manchin doing the same before too much longer.
There are currently 49 republicans in the Senate, and 48 democrats. Schumer has to be scared of losing his position.
Yep, as well he should be.