California Senator Dianne Feinstein has returned to the United States Senate after nearly three months away. The 89-year-old was sidelined from the chamber due to health concerns over her shingles battle, and despite questions from colleagues about her fitness to serve, she could return as early as Tuesday night.
What makes her presence so crucial is her seat on the almost perfectly-divided Judiciary Committee: her vote breaks the tie and will allow for Biden’s judicial appointees to be approved; in her absence, only one has been and the rest have been stalled. Taking back the judiciary has been a priority for Democrats ever since Donald Trump appointed an astounding amount of judges during his four years.
Despite recent calls for her resignation, her presence is now imperative for the Democrats, and her return is pretty much the only way to resolve the voting headache: Feinstein asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily replace her on the Senate Judiciary Committee, though Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said there would be no urgency to appoint someone to her committee seat, and without his blessing nothing would happen.
Feinstein will not seek reelection in 2024.
