Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) appeared to imply that sexism may be playing a role in calls for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to resign.
Pelosi was asked for her opinion on calls by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) for Feinstein to resign, and she questioned why it seemed male senators never get the same criticism to resign when they fall ill.
FEINSTEIN FACES CALLS TO RESIGN AS FRUSTRATION OVER SENATE ABSENCE BOILS OVER
“She deserves the respect to get well and be back on duty, and it’s interesting to me. I don’t know what political agendas are at work that are going after Sen. Feinstein in that way. I’ve never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way,” the former speaker said Wednesday.
Pelosi also commended Feinstein as a "champion for California" and praised her years of service for the Golden State.
"Senator Feinstein has been a champion for California. For 20 years, I have been the leader or the speaker of the House fighting for California, and I have seen up close and firsthand her great leadership for our country and especially for our state of California," Pelosi said.
Feinstein, 89, has been away from the Senate recovering from shingles for much of the Senate's current term, missing 60 of the 82 votes taken in the Senate this year. She was released from the hospital last month but remains in California as she recovers.
Khanna tweeted Wednesday that "personal loyalty" should be put aside and that the senior California senator should resign.
“While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties,” he tweeted. “Not speaking out undermines our credibility as elected representatives of the people.”
In a statement Wednesday, Feinstein said she remains "committed to the job" and vowed to return "as soon as possible."
"When I was first diagnosed with shingles, I expected to return by the end of the March work period. Unfortunately, my return to Washington has been delayed due to continued complications related to my diagnosis. I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that it’s safe for me to travel. In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco," the senator from California said.
She requested Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to replace her on the Senate Judiciary Committee temporarily, noting that her prolonged absence "could delay the important work" of the powerful committee. A spokesperson for Schumer said he would follow Feinstein's wishes and temporarily replace her on the committee.
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Feinstein has already said she will not seek another term for her Senate seat, which she was first elected to in 1992. The race for her seat in 2024 is set to be a fierce battle between Golden State Democrats, with Pelosi endorsing Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) in the primary.
If Feinstein were to resign, it would mean Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) would get to appoint a replacement until an election is held for the seat. Newsom appointed Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) to fill the vacancy left by then-Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) when she resigned to become vice president in 2021.