Facing Democrat Calls to Resign, Absent Feinstein Asks Schumer to ‘Temporarily’ Replace Her on Key C

[mystery-ak]

Facing Democrat Calls to Resign, Absent Feinstein Asks Schumer to ‘Temporarily’ Replace Her on Key Committee

Ashley Oliver 12 Apr 2023 Washington, DC

Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) indefinite absence in Washington has sparked calls from her own party members for her resignation and a request from the senator for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to “temporarily” fill her seat on a key panel that decides judicial nominees.

Feinstein, 89, has been home recovering from shingles for more than a month, which has caused her to miss dozens of floor votes and hold up Democrats’ approval of President Joe Biden’s pending judicial nominees.

The nominees must pass through the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is currently split dead evenly between Republicans and Democrats while Feinstein is away.

On Wednesday, fellow Californian Rep. Ro Khanna was the first congressional Democrat to call for Feinstein to step down, saying in a statement, “It is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties.”

Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, another Democrat, soon chimed in that he agreed with Khanna.

“Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable,” Phillips wrote. “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.”

more
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/04/12/facing-democrat-calls-to-resign-absent-feinstein-asks-schumer-to-temporarily-replace-her-on-key-committee/

[mystery-ak]

 Khanna: Feinstein offer to be temporarily replaced on key panel not enough
by Stephen Neukam - 04/13/23 8:49 AM ET

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) on Thursday said the suggestion from Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that she be temporarily replaced on the Senate Judiciary Committee was “a step,” but said the process to have her replaced was “not that simple” after he called for the 89-year-old senator to resign on Wednesday.

“It’s a step, but as has been reported, it’s not that simple,” Khanna said in an appearance on CNN. “Any Republican senator can object to that … we have to see if that’s even possible.”

Khanna became the first House Democrat to publicly call for Feinstein’s resignation on Wednesday. The six-term senator has been dealing with ongoing health complications and has been in California, meaning the Judiciary Committee has been unable to pass through judicial nominees for floor votes.

In the wake of calls for her to resign from Democratic colleagues, Feinstein announced that she was asking Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to appoint a temporary replacement for her on the committee, a request that Schumer said he would abide by.

more
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/3948398-khanna-feinstein-offer-to-be-temporarily-replaced-on-key-panel-not-enough/

[DefiantMassRINO]

I see a fight in the Federal courts.

Is there a precedent for a standing US Senator to have a stand-in?  Is there any way this can be legal according to US Constitution and California state law?

[Kamaji]

Presumably she could resign from the committee, and Schumer could then appoint a replacement for her.  However, I am unfamiliar with whether Senate rules allow for a temporary replacement or stand-in to be appointed for an ill or otherwise absent committee member.

[DefiantMassRINO]

Committee assignments can be fungible, but US Senate seats are not.

Feinstein is either US Senator or not.  I don't think she can take a temporary breather while someone not chosen by the Governor or people of California fulfills her role.

Either she keeps the US Seante seat or she vacates the seat to allow for a replacement to be designated by a process detailed by California state law and in compliance with the US Constitution.