AOC backs calls for Feinstein to retire, says they are not sexist
Ryan King
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) joined calls by progressives for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to resign as her prolonged absence hampers Democrats.
Feinstein, 89, has been out of the Senate since February, when she contracted shingles, which has prompted a small contingent of progressives in the House to urge her to resign. So far, Feinstein has refused to do so, and allies such as Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have cried sexism.
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“Should retire. I think criticisms of that stance as ‘anti-feminist’ are a farce. Her refusal to either retire or show up is causing great harm to the judiciary — precisely where repro rights are getting stripped. That failure means now in this precious window Dems can only pass GOP-approved nominees,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Bluesky.
https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1653208670002618369?s=20
Bluesky is a nascent social media company that has the backing of Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Intended to serve as a decentralized social media protocol, the company’s platform is currently operating as an invite-only beta.
A spokeswoman for Ocasio-Cortez confirmed the authenticity of her remarks to the Washington Examiner.
Last month, when asked about Feinstein, the 33-year-old progressive congresswoman argued that it was “appropriate” for the senator to “consider” resigning. At the time, some of her colleagues, such as Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), were more forceful.
Pelosi defended Feinstein, saying, “I’ve never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way.”
At issue is Feinstein’s perch on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Due to her extended absence, Democrats have been stymied from approving President Joe Biden’s controversial judiciary picks. Feinstein asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to name a substitute last month, but the GOP has lined up in opposition.
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2024 Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley echoed Democratic calls for Feinstein to step down Monday while pushing for mental competency tests for politicians ages 75 and older. Feinstein has already opted not to run for reelection in 2024.
Prior to Feinstein’s absence, Democrats pushed through their judiciary picks at a fast clip.