Feinstein Heads Back To Washington After Three-Month Absence

Topline

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is set to return to the Senate floor on Wednesday after a nearly three-month hiatus due to health issues, her spokesperson said Tuesday, amid growing calls for her resignation from within the party after her absence helped the GOP pass legislation and block federal judge appointments.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), is seen in the U.S. Capitol subway on February 15, 2023.

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Key Facts

Feinstein headed back to Washington on Tuesday from San Francisco, where she had been recovering from a shingles infection since mid-February, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

She is expected to cast her first vote since February 16 on Wednesday, after missing 91 total floor votes during her recovery, NBC News reported.

Her absence was blamed for a slowdown in the Senate’s ability to confirm President Joe Biden’s nominees for federal judgeships, a key priority for Senate Democrats as they seek to balance the scales of power on the federal bench after senators confirmed 234 federal judges under former President Donald Trump.

Feinstein is one of 21 members on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is tasked with recommending judges for a full floor vote and is controlled 11-10 by Democrats.

Senate Republicans were also able to approve a rollback of an Environmental Protection Agency rule limiting heavy-truck emissions in Feinstein’s absence when Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) crossed party lines to vote with the GOP, 50-49.

Feinstein’s return comes after at least five Democratic Congress members called for her resignation, though she insisted throughout her illness she would return to the Senate.

Key Background

Feinstein, who, at 89, is the oldest lawmaker in Congress, announced in February she would retire from the Senate after more than 30 years at the end of her term in 2024. Even before her extended absence this year, concerns have been raised about her mental faculties as she reportedly suffers from short-term memory issues. Throughout her illness, Feinstein’s team has insisted she would return and serve out the remainder of her term, despite Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna (Calif.), Dean Phillips (Minn.), Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) calling for her to step down. She maintained broad public support from Democratic leaders in Congress, however, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), who said last week he was “hopeful” she would return this week. Former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also staunchly defended Feinstein, suggesting that calls for her to step down were sexist.

Topline

Key Facts

Key Background

Further Reading