(Headline USA) A former speechwriter for President Barack Obama called on Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to resign immediately in light of her extended health-related absence from the legislative chamber.
Jon Lovett, who is also the co-founder of leftist media company Crooked Media, pointed out that Feinstein’s absence is preventing Senate Democrats from confirming judicial appointments, which is thus setting back President Joe Biden’s agenda.
“There’s been a lot of reporting about Dianne Feinstein no longer being fit to serve in the Senate representing the biggest state in this country. She is currently out for shingles. That is sad. That is obviously not her fault,” he said on his podcast.
“But because she is not in the Judiciary Committee, [Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.] has said that it has made it basically impossible to move a lot of these lower court nominees to the Senate for a vote, which means that Dianne Feinstein, who should not be in the Senate, is now preventing us from being able to confirm judges,” Lovett added.
Feinstein was diagnosed with shingles last month and was hospitalized for treatment on March 2. She was indisposed for much of February as well due to an infection. She was released from the hospital on March 7, but Feinstein has yet to return to the Senate.
Feinstein revealed earlier this year that she intends to retire at the end of her term in 2024, but Lovett said Democrats should be demanding her immediate resignation.
“I think what the people around Dianne Feinstein are doing, allowing, being part of this farce of having a lack of a senator in such an important job is really wrong,” he continued. “And Dianne Feinstein should no longer be in the Senate. She has to resign and more people should be calling on her to resign.”
In that vein, two Democrat lawmakers — Reps. Dean Phillips of Minnesota and Ro Khanna of California — have also called for Feinstein to step down.
Feinstein on Wednesday reportedly asked to be temporarily replaced on the Judiciary Committee.
