California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, was confused last year after watching Vice President Kamala Harris preside over the Senate for a tie-breaking vote.
Feinstein, 89, appeared unsure during a vote why Harris, who had previously severed numerous ties, was in her role as Senate president, according to a report by The New York Times.
A witness included in the report said Feinstein allegedly asked her colleagues, “What is she doing here?”
With the Senate deadlocked in a 50-50 majority split for the first two years of the Biden administration, Democrats needed every member of their party plus Harris’ tie-breaking vote to pass many bills and nominations.
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Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., was confused last year after watching Vice President Kamala Harris preside over the Senate for a tie-breaking vote. (Drew Anger/Getty Images)
The senator’s deteriorating memory was well-documented last year, with some lawmakers and former aides telling the San Francisco Chronicle that he can no longer fulfill his duties and represent the nearly 40 million people in California without substantial help from his assistants.
This year, Feinstein was absent from the Senate from February to May as she dealt with complications from the shingles. When he returned, he suffered from a neurological disorder called Ramsay Hunt syndrome that stemmed from his struggles with shingles.
A week after returning to Capitol Hill after her three-month absence, Feinstein seemed unaware she had been away. After a reporter asked her on May 16 about her colleagues’ response to her return, Feinstein said she never left.
Senator Feinstein was absent from the Senate from February to May as she dealt with complications from the shingles. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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“No, I didn’t go,” Feinstein said. “You should follow the… I haven’t been. I’ve been working.”
Feinstein has relied heavily on aides to function since her return to the upper chamber. According to The New York Times, employees push his wheelchair, remind him how and when he should vote, and explain what happens when he gets confused.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein has relied heavily on aides to function since her return to Capitol Hill. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Some Democratic lawmakers are calling for Feinstein’s resignation because of cognitive impairment and inability to perform her duties. Reps. Ro Khanna, California; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York; Ritchie Torres, New York; and Rashida Tlaib, Mich., have urged the senator to resign.
Feinstein announced in February that she would not seek re-election in 2024 but would serve out the remainder of her term. He has served in the upper house for 30 years.
