Dianne Feinstein Passes On At Age 90
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the longest-serving woman in the U.S. Senate, passed away on Friday. The California Democrat breathed her last at her residence in Washington at the age of 90.
Feinstein’s chief of staff, James Sauls, delivered the somber news, stating, “Sadly, Senator Feinstein passed away last night at her home in Washington, D.C. Her passing is a great loss for so many, from those who loved and cared for her to the people of California that she dedicated her life to serving.”
“There are few women who can be called senator, chairman, mayor, wife, mom and grandmother. Senator Feinstein was a force of nature who made an incredible impact on our country and her home state,” the statement added.
News of the death has prompted expressions of sorrow across the political spectrum. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) highlighted the significance of Feinstein’s contributions, describing it as “a very, very sad day for all of us.”
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) also praised Feinstein for her lengthy career and her groundbreaking role in advancing women’s participation in government. “Dianne Feinstein, right from the start, was an icon for women in politics,” she stated.
Biden also paid his respects, referring to the deceased senator as a “true trailblazer” and a “cherished friend,” he said, in part.
Feinstein’s long-standing health issues had been a topic of concern for over a year, leading some to question her fitness for office. However, the exact cause of her death remains unclear as of the time of this reporting.
Per Fox News, she had been present in the Senate as recently as Wednesday, casting a vote at 11:45 a.m. ET, as recorded in the congressional record. She later missed two subsequent votes that afternoon.
While her passing has left Democrats without a majority on the Judiciary Committee responsible for processing President Biden’s judicial nominees, top Republican senators have expressed their willingness to let Democrats replace her on the panel.
Amid the condolences, news of the senator’s death has fueled calls for term limits, even as some people have pointed out that her last days should not have been spent in Congress.
Dianne Feinstein was literally voting on legislation in the Senate on the same day that she died.
We need term limits.
This can't continue like this.
— Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) September 29, 2023
In the last days of her life, Democrats wheeled Sen. Dianne Feinstein into Congress and TOLD her how to vote instead of letting her enjoy the time with her family. That's elder abuse.
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) September 29, 2023
