U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley Tuesday night added her voice to the chorus of lawmakers calling on U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California to resign.
Feinstein, 89, who has held her seat since 1992 and was the first woman elected to the Senate from the Golden State, has been on extended leave since February, when she was reportedly hospitalized with shingles.
“Certainly, I wish [Sen. Feinstein] — who is a trailblazer in her own right and has ably and faithfully served in the Senate for many decades — I wish her well in her health and her recovery,” Pressley said during an appearance on Boston Public Radio’s inaugural evening program Tuesday. “But I do think that if it's impacting her ability to do the job, I would support a resignation.”
The Massachusetts congresswoman’s comments came hours after U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a fellow progressive, and former South Carolina governor and GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley both called on Feinstein to step down amid her extended absence from the Senate.
Up until Tuesday, pressure for Feinstein to bow out came mainly from Democrats in the House, including Rep. Ro Khanna of her home state, Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota.
A resignation would empower California Gov. Gavin Newsom to appoint a replacement until the 2024 election for Feinstein’s successor plays out.
Senators from both parties have defended Feinstein.
In her latest public statement regarding her absence on April 12, Feinstein signaled intent to return “as soon as possible” once cleared by her medical team. Later that month, Senate Republicans blocked an attempt to seat a temporary replacement at on the powerful Judiciary Committee that deals with Justice Department oversight, pending legislation and judicial nominations. Feinstein requested the move after pressure from Democratic colleagues seeking to advance stalled nominees.
The work of the committee, Pressley said, “just is one example” of Democrats holding a narrow margin has proved consequential legislating amid a highly partisan political climate.
Feinstein’s absence could also factor into forthcoming votes on the nation’s debt limit.
The Sacramento Bee reported Tuesday that following a news conference, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s notes showed he is “hopeful” Feinstein will come back, though Feinstein’s office indicated it has no timetable for her return.
