Top Dem says he “doesn’t have a medical degree” when asked if he’s worried about Dianne Feinstein

Top Democrats brushed off growing concerns about Senator Dianne Feinstein’s ailing health after she forgot she’d been absent from Congress for two months with shingles.

California Congressman Pete Aguilar dodged questions about 89-year-old Feinstein’s health Wednesday, mocking the fact that he had “no medical degree.”

Aguilar was seemingly reluctant to criticize any of his colleagues, as he admitted that Democrats in the House would need Liberals in the Senate to “have their backs” on the upcoming ballots.

Another lawmaker, Mike Levin, insisted he was happy to see Feinstein back, despite concerns about her mental and physical abilities expressed by both liberal and conservative lawmakers.

Feinstein has been absent for a long time after a case of shingles. She returned last week in a wheelchair and said in a statement that she is on a lighter schedule on doctor’s orders.

Feinstein caused confusion in her first Senate appearance in nearly three months by claiming she was there all along.

‘No, I’ve been here. I voted,” the 89-year-old told reporters on Tuesday when they asked how she felt and what her colleagues thought of her return. ‘Please. You either know it or you don’t,” she added bizarrely.

In an interview upon her return, some top Democrats said they were happy to see Feinstein again and not willing to question her role in the Senate.

Ted Lieu, Hawaii’s representative, joked that Democrats “don’t get in the way of conversations and their doctors” when asked about the octogenarian’s ability to legislate.

“​​I have no medical training, so I’m not going to comment on how she feels or how she looks,” Representative Aguilar said.

“We expect Senate Democrats to support us in some of these votes and discussions… I appreciate the fact that she is back to work and we wish her nothing but the best.”

Congressman Ted Lieu of Hawaii, a frequent critic of former President Donald Trump, elaborated on the medical theme.

“Democrats don’t stand in the way of conversations between patients and their doctors,” he said.

‘Sen. Feinstein came back last week and she voted, which was very good.’

Another California official, Representative Mike Levin, also declined to speculate on Feinstein’s health.

“I’m really happy that she’s back and she’s voting and participating in the Judiciary Committee and I think that says it all,” he said. “I’m glad she’s back and happy to be able to do her duties.”

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman raised similar concerns on Tuesday over his stumbling speech at a hearing on the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. He suffered a stroke during his campaign last year, but was elected anyway.

Last month, Feinstein requested a temporary replacement on the Judiciary Committee.

Now there is more concern for Feinstein, whose physical and mental capacity has deteriorated in recent years, after she seemed to forget that she had been absent for the past two and a half months.

When Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut was asked if there was any optimism that Feinstein could become a fully functioning, contributing member of the committee again, just like her old self.

“There’s one job no one else can do for us, and that’s voting,” Blumenthal said. “And she’s been doing that for the past few days, and as far as I know, she’s doing well.”

However, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said, “I’ll leave that to the medics.”

Feinstein arrived in the Senate on Wednesday after flying from California — where she was recuperating at her home in San Francisco — to Washington DC

“While I have made significant progress and was able to return to Washington, I am still experiencing some side effects from the shingles virus. My doctors have advised me to work a lighter schedule when I return to the Senate,” she said in a statement.

She then made her return to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, arriving nearly 90 minutes late and after some judicial candidates had already been voted on.

She received a standing ovation from both Republicans and Democrats on the panel when she joined them after being away due to health concerns.

Side effects include persistent pain known as postherpetic neuralgia, painful eye infections that can lead to vision loss, facial paralysis, or problems with hearing or balance, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Feinstein arrived in time to vote for the promotion of three of President Joe Biden’s nominees. She was fired by members of her own party for her extended absence from the Senate, which hampered confirmation from some judges.

Meanwhile, Feinstein has said she will not run for re-election in 2024.

The race to replace her is already competitive with several Democrats running to fill a Senate seat that hasn’t been vacant in 30 years, including Representatives Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff and Katie Porter.

There are concerns that if Feinstein were to step down, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom — who must nominate someone to serve her term — could disrupt the race to replace her by nominating someone who is already running for the seat.

He has said he would hire a black woman for the job. Rep. Lee is black.

And Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who led the latest round of calls for Feinstein’s resignation, has endorsed Lee in the primary to replace Feinstein.

California has a jungle primary, meaning the top two winners, regardless of party, advance to the general election. That means the heavily Democratic state could see two Democrats running in the November 2024 election.