Global Courant 2023-05-19 03:37:47
WASHINGTON — Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., experienced more complications than were publicly disclosed from a recent case of shingles that kept her away from Washington for nearly three months.
Feinstein, 89, was also affected Ramsay Hunt syndromewhich occurred when shingles spread to her head and neck, and a case of shingles encephalitiswhat brain swelling is, a person familiar with her situation said Thursday.
The New York Times reported first the previously undisclosed complications.
During brief appearances at the Capitol this week, Feinstein appeared to have paralysis on the left side of her face, a side effect of Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
A Feinstein spokesperson later confirmed the complications.
“The senator previously disclosed that she had several complications related to her shingles diagnosis. As discussed in the New York Times article, those complications include Ramsay Hunt syndrome and encephalitis,” the spokesman said in a statement Thursday evening.
“Although the encephalitis cleared up on its own shortly after she was released from hospital in March, she still has complications from Ramsay Hunt syndrome,” the spokesperson said.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., at a Senate meeting Thursday.Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
One of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s daughters, Nancy Corrine Prowda, has helped Feinstein navigate the halls of Congress as she recovers from shingles — sparking speculation by Washington insiders about political motives to keep Feinstein from backing down. withdraw from the Senate.
“Nancy Corrine is a dear friend of Senator Feinstein going back more than 40 years,” a Feinstein spokesperson said in a statement earlier Thursday. “She has been spending time with the senator as she continues to recover from shingles.”
Feinstein has already announced that she will not seek another Senate term and will mount a competitive Democratic primary to replace her. Should Feinstein retire before her term expires, California Governor Gavin Newsom would appoint a temporary replacement, which some say could give an advantage to one of the candidates in the primary race.
Feinstein uses a wheelchair. Politics reported first Prowda’s help.
Feinstein returned to the Capitol last week after being diagnosed with singles in February and hospitalized in San Francisco. She attended a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee where she helped Democrats get three judicial nominees to speak in party-line votes.
Some Democrats have called for Feinstein to resign from Congress because of her health, but she is determined to stay.
She said this year she plans to retire from Congress at the end of 2024, after serving three decades in the Senate and more than 50 years in public office. She is the oldest serving senator and the longest-serving senator from California, elected in 1992.
Zoë Richards contributed.
