



The proposal to temporarily replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on the Senate Judiciary Committee is facing increasing opposition from Republicans.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) joined the dissent on Monday, arguing against the plan that aims to end the stalemate blocking the advancement of judicial nominees while Feinstein deals with complications from shingles.
In a tweet, Blackburn stated, “I will not go along with [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer’s plan to replace Senator Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee and pack the court with activist judges.” She added that President Joe Biden “wants the Senate to rubber stamp his unqualified and controversial judges to radically transform America.”
Feinstein has been absent from Capitol Hill since early March when she announced her hospitalization in San Francisco due to a shingles diagnosis.
Last week, amid calls from fellow Democrats for her resignation, Feinstein requested Sen. Schumer (D-NY) to temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee while she recovers.
She acknowledged that her “absence could delay the important work” of the panel but pledged to continue working from home in San Francisco until her medical team advises it is safe to travel.
Blackburn’s opposition follows Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), another Judiciary Committee member, who tweeted over the weekend, “Republicans should not assist Democrats in confirming Joe Biden’s most radical nominees to the courts.”
To replace Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee, 60 votes are needed in the narrowly-divided Senate, requiring at least 10 Republicans to join Democrats and independents in approving the swap.
Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) recently admitted that Feinstein’s absence is hampering the panel’s ability to advance Biden’s federal court nominees, as a tie vote in the committee results in a losing vote.
Senate Majority Leader Schumer expressed his desire to present a resolution this week and hopes Republicans will join Democrats in agreeing on a temporary replacement.
Schumer plans to discuss the possibility of a swap with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who recently returned to Capitol Hill after recovering from a fall.
As the Senate’s oldest member at 89 years old, Feinstein has faced concerns about her mental fitness from colleagues in recent years.
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In February, she announced that she would not seek re-election in 2024.
Since then, three prominent House Democrats—Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, and Barbara Lee—have launched campaigns to replace Feinstein in the Senate.