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‘I haven’t posted anything’: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 89, says she was unaware her staff issued a statement saying she would retire in 2024, following concerns about her cognitive decline
- The oldest woman in the Senate will retire at the end of her current term in 2024
- The California Democrat has faced questions about her performance in recent years.
- She was first elected in 1992 and is now the oldest serving senator.
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein told reporters Tuesday that she had “not released anything” about her withdrawal from Congress after her office issued a statement announcing that this was her last term.
‘I have not made that decision. I haven’t posted anything,” he told reporters when asked about his emailed statement.
When a staff member mentioned the above announcement, he said: ‘Did you put the statement up? I didn’t know they turned it off.
The 89-year-old lawmaker is undoubtedly a political titan, particularly in California. But recent reports have raised concerns about his cognitive abilities at this advanced age and have accelerated the push for him to retire.
Alex Padilla, the junior senator from California, confirmed to reporters at the Senate Democrats’ weekly press conference that Feinstein had informed the caucus during their luncheon Tuesday that he would retire in early 2024.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein told reporters Tuesday that she did not announce plans to retire hours after her office sent out an emailed statement indicating just that.
She was surrounded by reporters on her way to the Senate vote Tuesday afternoon.
His departure sets the stage for a fierce battle to take his seat in California.
In an emailed statement on Tuesday, she confirmed that she would retire at the end of her current term after being first elected in 1992.
“I am announcing today that I will not be running for re-election in 2024, but I intend to accomplish as much as I can for California until the end of next year when my term ends,” he said.
Democratic members of Congress Adam Schiff and Katie Porter have already announced that they will seek his seat.
Rep. Barbara Lee has also indicated that she may run, though she has not made a formal announcement.
“I campaigned in 2018 on several priorities for California and the nation: preventing and fighting wildfires, mitigating the effects of an unprecedented drought, responding to the homelessness crisis, and ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable health care and high quality”. she added.
“Congress has enacted legislation on all of these issues in recent years, but more needs to be done, and I will continue these efforts,” Feinstein added.
Feinstein was a key part of the country’s first assault weapons ban and helped confirm the release of documents detailing the CIA’s use of torture.
But his approval among California voters has plummeted with just 30 percent backing his performance in a poll last year.
The 89-year-old is the oldest woman in the Senate and has recently faced questions about whether she is up to the job.