Dianne Feinstein, 89, gets standing ovation upon return to Judiciary panel trends now
Senator Dianne Feinstein made her return to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, arriving nearly 90 minutes late and after some judicial nominees had already been voted on.
The Democratic senator from California received a standing ovation from Republicans and Democrats alike on the panel when she joined them after being gone for nearly three months due to health issues.
'I want to welcome back our colleague, Senator Dianne Feinstein,' Chairman Dick Durbin announced.
An aide helped Feinstein, 89, walk to her seat. She has been using a wheelchair in the halls of the Capitol. Another aide placed Feinstein's name plate in front of her as the senator sat down.
She appeared to mouth 'thank you' and shook hands with Durbin. She did not respond to questions from reporters.
Senator Dianne Feinstein made her return to the Senate Judiciary Committee
Feinstein arrived in time to vote for the advancement of three of President Joe Biden's nominees. She has faced fire from members of her own party for her prolonged absence in the Senate, which held up confirmation of some judges.
With Feinstein present and voting, Democrats were able to advance the three nominees whose nominations had been on pause: Eastern District of Washington nominee Charnelle Bjelkengren, District of Colorado pick Kato Crews, and Marian Gaston for a vacancy on the Southern District for California.
And Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who sits on the judiciary panel, said Democrats were using her return to advance Biden's 'extreme' nominees.
'What we're about to see this committee do is vote on several nominees who are so extreme, who are so unqualified, that they would not have a prayer of getting a single Republican vote on this committee,' Cruz said.
Her return to the powerful panel came on the same day The Washington Post's Ben Terris' forthcoming tome The Big Break: The Gamblers, Party Animals, and True Believers Trying to Win in Washington While America Loses Its Mind revealed Feinstein cares 'more about her dog' than black people, a former African-American staffer charged, while she also confused two black senators.
Feinstein made her first appearance in the Senate in nearly three months on Wednesday. She arrived in a wheelchair and said in a statement she has to work a lighter schedule due to side-effects from shingles.
A car drove her to the entrance of the Capitol building. The 89-year-old Democratic Senator from read more from dailymail.....
