Ro Khanna calls on fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein to resign from US Senate

The 89-year-old politician has been absent since being diagnosed with shingles in February

California lawmaker Ro Khanna has called on fellow Democrat, US Senator Dianne Feinstein to resign from office saying it was “obvious she can no longer fulfil her duties.”

Representative Khanna became the first elected member of Congress to ask for the 89-year-old senator for California to stand down as she has not cast a vote since being diagnosed with shingles in February.

“It’s time for (Feinstein) to resign. We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfil her duties. Not speaking out undermines our credibility as elected representatives of the people,” he tweeted on Wednesday.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Ms Feinstein, who is the oldest member of the US Senate, has said she will not stand again in 2024 but insisted she planned on seeing out her term.

Because of her illness, she has been unable to take part in 58 out of 82 Senate votes so far in 2023, according to The San Francisco Chronicle

Ms Feinstein is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Democrats hold a slender majority of 11 votes to 10 for Republicans.

For judicial nominees to be sent to the Senate floor a majority of the committee’s members need to be present to vote, with a tie meaning that it does not proceed.

It’s time for @SenFeinstein to resign. We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty. 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.

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) April 12, 2023

The situation has left Democrats concerned about their ability to push through Joe Biden’s nominations of judges, according to NBC News.

Representative Dean Philips, a Democrat from Minnesota, also then called for Ms Feinstein’s resignation.

(I agree with (Khanna). Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable,” he tweeted.

“But I believe it’s now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate and a dereliction of duty for those who agree to remain quiet.”

I agree with @RoKhanna. Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. But I believe it’s now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate and a dereliction of duty for those who agree to remain quiet. https://t.co/lvaHhLJYsi

— Rep. Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 (@RepDeanPhillips) April 12, 2023

Jon Lovett, a former speechwriter for Barack Obama who hosts Pod Save America, called for Ms Feinstein to resign on his podcast on Tuesday.

.@jonlovett on Dianne Feinstein:

She is now preventing us from being able to confirm judges... As sad as it is to see someone who has had an incredibly storied and important career... Dianne Feinstein should no longer be in the Senate. She should resign. pic.twitter.com/aPPMVUJuq2

— Pod Save America (@PodSaveAmerica) April 11, 2023

“Dianne Feinstein should no longer be in the Senate. She should resign. And more people should be calling on her to resign,” he said.