Global Courant 2023-04-17 01:15:18
Several female Democratic senators were put on the spot Sunday over whether Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., should resign from the Senate amid her ongoing health concerns, with Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., saying time is running out for the 89-year-old to return.
Klobuchar said on ABC’s “This Week” that Feinstein, who has not voted since Feb. 16, is “certainly better” returning to the Senate in time for the vote to raise the debt ceiling this summer.
“In this case, we ultimately need her vote on the Senate floor,” she said. “We have things like the debt ceiling coming up. But I think we have to take her word for it, recover from shingles and make sure she comes back. If this continues month after month after month, then she’s going to make a decision have to take with her family and her friends about what her future holds.”
“Because this isn’t just about California. It’s also about the nation,” she continued. “And we just can’t, by this margin of one vote, expect every other person to be there every time. It’s going to be a problem as the months go by, but I take her word for it that she’s going to bring it back.”
Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuch and Tammy Baldwin (Fox news)
Senator Dianne Feinstein will make her way to the U.S. Capitol senate chambers on February 16, 2023. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
MEMBERS TURN ON DIANNE FEINSTEIN, CALL ON HER TO RESIGN FROM SENATE: ‘Dereliction of DUTY’
Feinstein, who has served in the Senate for more than 30 years, was hospitalized last month for shingles and faced other health concerns, including reports related to her mental fitness. She previously received calls to step down before announcing her intention not to seek re-election earlier this year.
Representatives Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Dean Phillips, D-Minn., led the call for Feinstein to step down.
“Although she has served in public service for a lifetime, it is clear that she can no longer fulfill her duties. If she does not speak out, she will undermine our credibility as elected representatives of the people,” Khanna said last week.
“Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable,” Phillips said. “But I believe it is now dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate and dereliction of duty for those who agree to keep their mouths shut,” he wrote.
Rep. Ro Khanna speaks at a news conference at the Capitol on Oct. 12, 2022. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY., took a similar tone to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in suggesting that sexism played a role in the calls against Feinstein.
“Her legacy and her profound experience are valuable. And we’ve had so many senators who have been sick, whether it’s (Senate Minority Leader) Mitch McConnell’s illness or senators who’ve had a stroke. These are issues that — we are people,” Gillibrand said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“And we think a senator should be able to make his own judgment about when to retire and when not to, and they all deserve a chance to get better and go back to work,” she said. “She’s a team player and she’s an extraordinary member of the Senate. She’s right about that. She’s been elected a senator for six years by her state. She has the right, in my opinion, to decide when to step down.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand speaks at a campaign event for Governor Kathy Hochul, November 6, 2022, at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Senator Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that “it’s up to Dianne Feinstein and her family to decide if she wants to continue serving.”
“I certainly wish Senator Feinstein the best, and I’m glad she made the decision to replace her seat on the Judiciary Committee,” Baldwin said. “I think that’s a really important and responsible thing to do in her absence, because we have President Biden’s nominees waiting for hearings and votes, and we want to keep that moving. But I wish her well and hope she returns to the Senate very soon. soon.”
Feinstein said in a statement Wednesday that she plans to temporarily step down from the Judiciary Committee.
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“When I was first diagnosed with shingles, I expected to return by the end of the work period in March,” Feinstein said. “Unfortunately, my return to Washington has been delayed due to ongoing complications related to my diagnosis.
“I plan to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises it is safe for me to travel. In the meantime, I will remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco.”
Fox News’ Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report.
Jessica Chasmar is a digital writer on the Fox News and Fox Business political team. Story tips can be sent to Jessica.Chasmar@fox.com.
