Dianne Feinstein aide awkwardly interrupts her during vote
Jack Birle
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Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) had an awkward moment during a roll call vote in a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Thursday when she started speaking instead of voting “aye” or “nay.”
Feinstein, 90, was interrupted by both an aide and committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) during her statement, who implored her to say “aye” rather than explain her stance.
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“Say aye,” Murray told Feinstein before she began speaking, but the California Democrat went forward with her statement.
“I would like to support a ‘yes’ vote on this. It provides $823 billion that’s an increase of $26 billion for the Department of Defense and it funds priorities submitted,” Feinstein said before she was interrupted by an aide and Murray telling her to just “say aye.”
“OK, aye,” Feinstein said, after being told to repeat the vote in the affirmative rather than give a statement.
Feinstein has faced numerous questions about her health in recent years. She reportedly appeared confused and denied being away from the Senate for months earlier this year. The longtime California senator was hospitalized in February while battling shingles and was absent from the chamber for months. She returned to the Senate in May.
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During her lengthy absence earlier this year, some Democrats called for Feinstein to resign because of her position on the influential Senate Judiciary Committee. While Feinstein was absent, several of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees were stalled because of the narrowly divided Senate. She was not removed from the committee and has remained a member of the Senate.
The California Democrat has said she will not run for another term in 2024 and will retire once her term ends in January 2025.