CNN
—
Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Wednesday night that she had asked to be “temporarily” replaced on the Senate Judiciary Committee while she is recovering from shingles, but the California Democrat remained committed to returning to the Senate amid some pressure from her party to step down.
“I understand that my absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee, so I’ve asked Leader Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until I’m able to resume my committee work,” the 89-year-old Feinstein said in a statement.
Feinstein said she had expected to return to Washington “by the end of the March work period,” but that her return had been “delayed due to continued complications related to my diagnosis.” She planned to return, she said, “as soon as possible once my medical team advises that it’s safe for me to travel.”
The statement came after a rare instance of lawmakers urging a member of their own party to step down from Congress. California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna earlier in the day had called for her resignation – a sentiment echoed by another House Democrat on Twitter.
“It’s time for @SenFeinstein to resign. We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties. Not speaking out undermines our credibility as elected representatives of the people,” Khanna, co-chair of Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee’s campaign to fill Feinstein’s Senate seat in 2024, said Wednesday on Twitter.
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday night that “per Sen. Feinstein’s wishes,” he would “ask the Senate next week to allow another Democratic Senator to temporarily serve on the Judiciary Committee.”
In order to replace her on the committee, a resolution would need to be agreed upon to name another member to the panel. Typically, members are named to committees as part of an organizing resolution at the beginning of a new Senate session.
The process at the start of a new Congress typically happens without incident. Leaders agree and the resolution is adopted by unanimous consent.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin recently acknowledged to CNN that Feinstein’s absence had slowed down the party’s push to confirm nominees.
Asked if her absence has longer ramifications for the Democrats’ ability to confirm nominees, the Illinois Democrat said, “Yes, of course it does,” pointing to the long process of getting nominees scheduled for votes during precious floor time.
In early March, Feinstein said that she had been hospitalized and was receiving treatment for shingles. On March 7, she said on Twitter that she was recovering at home as she continued to receive treatment, and that she looked forward to returning to the Senate “as soon as possible.”
Multiple sources told CNN earlier Wednesday that there has not been a specific date set for her return.
The senator announced in February that she would not run for reelection, and a number of Democrats have already launched campaigns for Feinstein’s seat in 2024 in what is shaping up to be a competitive primary.
It’s not just California Democrats who are thinking about the future of the seat without Feinstein. Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota responded to Khanna’s Wednesday tweet saying that he agreed.
“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,” Phillips tweeted.
This headline and story have been updated with additional developments.
