U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., returned to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday after taking a months-long absence following a shingles diagnosis.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer confirmed the longtime senator’s return in a statement, saying he is pleased that his “friend Dianne is back in the Senate and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work.”
Feinstein’s office also confirmed the 89-year-old congresswoman was traveling and expected to be in D.C. Tuesday evening.
Her return to the Capitol restores the Democrats’ 51-49 majority in the Senate.
BIDEN REFUSES TO JOIN DEM CALLS FOR SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN TO RESIGN
On March 2, Feinstein revealed she was hospitalized with shingles in San Francisco, California, adding that she hoped to return to the Senate by “later this month.”
“I was diagnosed over the February recess with a case of shingles. I have been hospitalized and am receiving treatment in San Francisco,” Feinstein’s office shared with Fox News Digital at the time. “I hope to return to the Senate later this month.”
FORMER OBAMA SPEECH WRITER CALLS ON DIANNE FEINSTEIN TO RESIGN: ‘SHOULD NOT BE IN THE SENATE’
Her nearly three month-long absence prompted calls from politicians on both sides of the aisle for the veteran senator to retire.
“It’s time for [Feinstein] to resign. We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty,” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., wrote on Twitter. “While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties. Not speaking out undermines our credibility as elected representatives of the people.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., also called for the senator’s resignation as several judicial nominations are pending in the senate.Â
“Her refusal to either retire or show up is causing great harm to the judiciary – precisely where [reproductive] rights are getting stripped,” Ocasio-Cortez said during an interview. “That failure means now in this precious window Dems can only pass…
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