Senator Dianne Feinstein, 90, is suing her late husband’s estate in ugly family feud after her ‘significant medical expenses’

Senator Dianne Feinstein, the senior member of Congress facing serious health problems, is suing her late husband’s estate, arguing that she is being denied payments for “significant” medical bills.

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.

In the lawsuit filed Monday in San Francisco Superior Court, attorneys for Feinstein and her daughter, Katherine, who represents her, wrote that she had accrued “significant” medical expenses and was seeking reimbursement from the spousal trust established in 1996 by her husband, investor Richard Blum, who died in 2022.

Fund managers said they were “perplexed” by the filing and have never denied any payout for 90-year-old Feinstein, who was absent from the Senate for two and a half months this year she struggled with shingles and other complications.

The senator is the “sole beneficiary of the income” of the trust, which has assets including a life insurance policy and the proceeds from it, the filing said.

Despite Blum’s intention to provide for his wife’s welfare after his death, “the purported trustees have refused to make distributions to pay for Senator Feinstein’s medical expenses,” they wrote.

In addition, they said “alleged trustees” Mark R. Klein and Marc Scholvinck had not been appointed in accordance with the terms of the trust.

The senator wants to appoint her daughter to manage the fund, which they’ve asked the court to confirm. Katherine Feinstein is Blum’s stepdaughter.

In response, Steven P. Braccini, an attorney for Klein and Scholvinck, said in a statement, “My clients are perplexed by this filing. Richard Blum’s trust has never denied any payout to Senator Feinstein, much less for medical expenses.”

“While my clients are very concerned, we all remain hopeful that this is just a misunderstanding that can be resolved quickly,” he said.

The filing identifies Katherine Feinstein, a member of the San Francisco Fire Commission and former judge, as the senator’s “de facto attorney,” someone authorized to act on behalf of another person.

But Braccini said, “We haven’t gotten any evidence that Katherine Feinstein has power of attorney for her mother; nor has Katherine, either in this file or directly to my clients, clarified why a sitting United States senator would require someone to have power of attorney over her.”

Feinstein, 90, was born in 1933 and has held her seat in the Senate for nearly 31 years

Her reputation begins to deteriorate as the ailing senator remains in power despite everyday cognitive decline and a two-and-a-half month absenteeism, leading to a backlog in the Judiciary Committee confirming judges

The senator is the “sole beneficiary of the income” of the trust, which has assets that include a life insurance policy and its proceeds, the filing says

In the suit filed Monday in San Francisco Superior Court, attorneys for the Feinstein and her daughter, Katherine (pictured), wrote that she had accrued “significant” medical expenses and sought reimbursement from the spousal trust, set up in 1996 by her husband, investor Richard Blum, who died in 2022

Despite late husband Richard Blum’s (pictured) intention to care for his wife’s welfare following his death, “the alleged trustees have refused to make distributions to pay for Senator Feinstein’s medical expenses,” they wrote.

The senator’s spokesman, Adam Russell, said in an email that Feinstein and her office would not comment on what he called “a private legal matter.”

Feinstein is covered by Medicare and the DC Health linkthat offers health plans for members of Congress.

She is the fifth-oldest ever 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.

After her sick leave, Feinstein returned to the Capitol in May looking noticeably thinner and more frail, about 10 weeks after being diagnosed and briefly hospitalized for shingles in San Francisco.

Feinstein returned to the Senate last month after a bout of shingles that led to vision and balance disorders, as well as facial paralysis known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, in addition to encephalitis, a brain infection.

Feinstein is covered by Medicare and the DC Health Link, which offers health plans for members of Congress

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

Feinstein was married to investment banker Richard Blum (pictured left) from 1980 until his death in 2022

Other side effects of the virus include vision and balance problems. She uses a wheelchair to get to her office and committee meetings.

For years, Feinstein has faced questions about her memory and cognitive abilities — though she’s defended her effectiveness — and sometimes appeared confused during brief discussions with reporters.

Despite calls from some in her own party resignFeinstein has given no indication that she is considering stepping down.