Chuck Grassley defends Dianne Feinstein against calls to push her out of Senate
Jack Birle
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Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is defending Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) against calls to resign over her extended absence from the Senate as she recovers from shingles.
Grassley, 89, told CNN that it is “a shame” that some are calling for Feinstein, 89, to resign. Feinstein, who is in California as she recovers from a bout of shingles, has been out since February. The 89-year-old has said she intends to return to the Senate.
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“I think it’s a shame that they’ve been picking on her for two years,” Grassley said.
The Iowa Republican also lamented how those calling for Feinstein to resign are “picking on somebody that’s older” and that they are not showing “proper respect.”
“They’re picking on somebody that’s older, and it just doesn’t show the proper respect,” said Grassley. “So, let’s just leave it this way. They should leave her alone. She’s sick.”
Grassley also denounced how Feinstein was not selected to be the chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Committee when Democrats took control of the chamber in 2021. Feinstein had served as ranking member from 2017 until 2021, but Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) was selected to be chairman under the Democratic majority.
Feinstein was released from the hospital in March and 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 is already shaping up to be a fierce battle between Golden State Democrats.
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If she 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.
Having to appoint Feinstein’s successor could be a political nightmare for Newsom amid the hotly contested primary for the seat, and Newsom has said he has been engulfed in communications from people trying to replace Feinstein.