Ailing Senator Dianne Feinstein, 90, gives her DAUGHTER power of attorney from her attorney after a series of cognitive concerns and during a bitter dispute over her late husband’s estate
- Feinstein and daughter at odds with Blum’s three daughters over access to late husband Richard Blum’s life insurance policy
- They also duel over Feinstein’s desire to sell a beach house in an upscale neighborhood in Stinson Beach, north of San Francisco.
- Last week, Feinstein had to be told to ‘just say yes’ when voting for a defense bill during an armed forces price hike
Dianne Feinstein’s daughter Katherine now has power of attorney over her mother’s affairs as the ailing 90-year-old refuses to relinquish her seat in the California Senate.
A new New York Times report details the messy legal dispute currently going on between Feinstein and her daughter, 66, against the three children of her late wealthy husband Richard Blum.
The Feinsteins are at odds with Blum’s three daughters over access to Blum’s life insurance policy – which the Senator tells her to pay for her growing health insurance. Feinstein is covered by Medicare and the DC Health Link, which offers health plans for members of Congress.
They also duel over Feinstein’s desire to sell a beach house in an upscale neighborhood in Stinson Beach, north of San Francisco.
Dianne Feinstein’s daughter Katherine now has power of attorney over her mother’s affairs as the ailing 90-year-old refuses to relinquish her California Senate seat
Katherine Feinstein has already filed two lawsuits against her mother’s two co-curators. The first lawsuit states that the beach house that Senator Feinstein wants to sell is in disrepair and she no longer wants to use it and that she wants to sell it in the summer or fall.
The second lawsuit alleges that Blum’s life insurance policy was held back by other trustees.
Feinstein, 90, was born in 1933 and has served on the Senate representing California for nearly 31 years.
Her reputation begins to sour as the ailing senator clings to power despite apparent cognitive decline and absence that led to a backlog in the Judiciary Committee confirming judges.
Last week, Feinstein had to be told to “just say yes” when voting for a defense bill during an armed forces price hike.
When asked to vote “yes” or “no,” she went on a bizarre tirade instead.
“I would support a yes vote on this. It brings in $823 billion…” she said. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., leaned over and whispered, “Just say yes.”
“Yes,” said Feinstein.
Feinstein held court confirmations that could not proceed for more than two months without her vote on the split Judiciary Committee.
After her sick leave, Feinstein returned to the Capitol in May looking noticeably thinner and frail, about ten weeks after being diagnosed and briefly hospitalized for shingles in San Francisco.
Feinstein returned with vision and balance disorders, as well as facial paralysis known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, in addition to encephalitis, a brain infection.
She is the fifth oldest person to serve in the Senate. Strom Thurmond, the segregationist Democrat turned Republican, was the oldest and longest-serving senator ever: he was 100 when he retired in January 2003 after 48 years in office.
She is also one of the richest: Feinstein is worth an estimated $58 million, according to the Los Angeles Times. She was married to investment banker Richard Blum from 1980 until his death in 2022.
Feinstein, whose pioneering political career shattered gender barriers from San Francisco City Hall to the corridors of Capitol Hill, announced in February that she would not seek re-election.
Three House Democrats have already lined up to try to replace her: Representatives Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff. Businessman Eric Early is on the Republican side.