Feinstein says she’ll work ‘lighter schedule’ as she continues shingles recovery
Cami Mondeaux
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Despite making her long-awaited return to Washington, D.C., this week, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said she is still not fully recovered and will be taking on a “lighter schedule” over the next few weeks.
Feinstein returned to the nation’s capital on Tuesday evening after being gone from the Senate for nearly three months due to a hospitalization caused by a shingles diagnosis. The California senator’s office had long teased her return to the upper chamber, with many congressional Democrats growing restless over her absence stalling their agenda.
DIANNE FEINSTEIN MAKING RETURN TO SENATE FOR FIRST TIME IN MONTHS
Although her return prompted celebration from several of her Democratic colleagues, Feinstein acknowledged it may still be a while until she resumes her full duties. She missed the first two votes of the day.
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“I’m grateful for all the well-wishes over the past couple of months and for the excellent care that I received from my medical team in San Francisco,” Feinstein said in a statement. “Even though I’ve made significant progress and was able to return to Washington, I’m still experiencing some side effects from the shingles virus. My doctors have advised me to work a lighter schedule as I return to the Senate. I’m hopeful those issues will subside as I continue to recover.”
Feinstein made her grand return to the Senate for votes on Wednesday afternoon, where she was seen being escorted into the Capitol building by a wheelchair.
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Her return comes after some Democrats went so far as to call on Feinstein to resign from the Senate due to her prolonged absence, accusing her of clogging up judicial nominations and costing the party some key votes. That list included names such as Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Dean Phillips (D-MN).
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Feinstein pushed back on arguments that her absence was slowing down work in the Senate, pointing to seven nominees the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced last week. The California senator emphasized her eagerness to return to accomplish the “pressing” matters facing the committee.
“The Senate faces many important issues, but the most pressing is to ensure our government doesn’t default on its financial obligations,” Feinstein said. “I also look forward to resuming my work on the Judiciary Committee considering the president’s judicial nominees.”