Pressure is mounting for Sen. Diane Feinstein to retire. Not only because she seems to be slipping quite badly as she ages, but her absence from the chamber since February has given Senate Republicans extra power.
California Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna is one high-profile Democrat leading the push to insist that the elderly California senator call it a career.
In several recent news interviews, Khanna has made his case as to why he -- and other Democrats -- believe Feinstein needs to go, sooner than later.
“This has to do with someone who is just not showing up, and I said out loud what people have been saying in private, and this is how the Beltway works. They don’t like it when you call out someone who’s in power, and that’s why people are unlikely to do it. But we’ve had so many calls from the American people and they say ‘Yeah, that’s right. If you’re gonna sign up to do these jobs, show up!’”
WATCH: @RoKhanna joins @ShannonBream to discuss the growing calls for congressional action to regulate A.I. and his recent calls for Sen. Dianne Feinstein to step down. #FoxNewsSunday pic.twitter.com/kWpQ5NqvH9
— Fox News Sunday (@FoxNewsSunday) April 16, 2023
Many Democrats have publicly expressed support for Feinstein and are always sure to praise her long career, but many also hope that she sticks to her word that she'll return sooner than later.
Feinstein has reportedly missed some 60 votes over the past few months, as she took a leave of absence in February reportedly due to contracting Shingles.
As Sen. Dianne Feinstein faces pressure to resign amid health issues, Sen. Amy Klobuchar tells @JonKarl, “I'm taking her at her word that she’s going to return.”
“Let's make sure that happens. And it sure better happen before the debt ceiling vote.” https://t.co/UuyXbzcNMO pic.twitter.com/uFk43yskJq
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) April 16, 2023
Born on June 22, 1933, in San Francisco, California, Feinstein attended Stanford University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in History in 1955. Her entry into politics began with an appointment to the California Women's Parole Board in 1960.
She became the first female mayor of San Francisco in 1978, following the assassination of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk
In 1992, Feinstein was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first female senator from California.
Recently, Feinstein, obviously feeling the pressure, has offered a compromise in the form of removing herself from the Senate Judiciary Committee until she returns.
Because of the offer, top Senate Democrats have already moved to decide on who might replace her on the prestigious committee. Still, according to Bloomberg, Republicans have already signaled that they will not favor a vote to replace her, causing yet another roadblock for the Biden administration's agenda.
Only time will tell if Feinstein bows to pressure from a growing number of her colleagues.
