WASHINGTON — Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is facing calls to resign from other Democrats in Congress after a long absence from the Senate due to ill health.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., became the first member of Congress to call on Feinstein to resign on Wednesday afternoon.
«It’s time to @SenFeinstein resign,» he tweeted. “We need to put country before personal loyalty. Although he has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious that he can no longer fulfill his duties. Not speaking up undermines our credibility as elected representatives of the people.»
Khanna elaborated in a message to NBC News: «We have a crisis in the judiciary with extremist judges stripping away women’s rights. You can’t preach on television about the danger of these judges and then sit quietly while the Senator Feinstein misses vote after vote to confirm pro-choice judges.»
“It is time for California officials who care deeply about reproductive rights to call on him to step down at this moment in history,” he said.
Concerns are growing that Feinstein’s prolonged absence is hampering Senate Democrats, particularly when it comes to confirming judges, given his pivotal vote in the Judiciary Committee.
Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., quickly chimed in to say he agrees with Khanna. «Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable,» Phillips tweeted. «But I think it is now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate and a dereliction of duty for those who agree to remain silent.»
Feinstein, 89, who has not voted in the Senate since February 16, said in early March that he had been diagnosed with shingles.
On Wednesday, after calls for his resignation, he issued a statement but did not provide a timetable for returning to Washington.
«I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that it is safe for me to travel,» he said.
“I understand that my absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee, so I have asked Leader [Chuck] Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to serve temporarily until I can resume my work on the committee.»
Feinstein, who was first elected to the Senate in 1992, has said she will not run for re-election but still has 20 months left on her term. Khanna has endorsed Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., to replace her.
Lee competes with other prominent California House Democrats, Adam Schiff and Katie Porter. Lee could be a big beneficiary if Feinstein decides to step aside early, as Gov. Gavin Newsom has done. saying he will appoint a black woman to the position if Feinstein decides to retire early and creates an opening.