Sen. Feinstein Requests Temporary Replacement on Judiciary Committee

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) asked to be temporarily replaced on the Senate Judiciary Committee but denied calls to resign from some fellow Democratic lawmakers.

For Context: Feinstein, 89, has been absent from the Senate since February, undergoing treatment for shingles. Her absence has delayed Democratic lawmakers efforts to confirm federal judges. Earlier this year, Feinstein announced she would not run for reelection in 2024 but planned to finish her current term. On Wednesday, two Democratic congress members called on Feinstein to resign.

Key Quotes: On Wednesday, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) tweeted, “It’s time for @SenFeinstein to resign. We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty.” Rep. Dean Phillips echoed this, tweeting, “Senator Feinstein 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 and a dereliction of duty for those who agree to remain quiet.” In a statement released Wednesday, Feinstein said she intends to return to the Senate “as soon as possible once my medical team advises that it’s safe for me to travel.” In the meantime, she requested Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) “ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve [on the Judiciary Committee] until I’m able to resume my committee work.”

How The Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum covered the statements. The New York Post highlighted that Khanna previously defended Feinstein from resignation calls.