‘I didn’t release anything’: Senator Dianne Feinstein, 89, says she wasn’t aware her staffers 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 incumbent Senator
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein told reporters Tuesday that she had not “released” anything about her resignation from Congress after her office issued a statement announcing that this would be her final term.
“I didn’t make that decision. I haven’t released anything,” she told reporters when asked about her emailed statement.
When a staffer mentioned the earlier announcement, she said: “You made the statement? I didn’t know they put it out.’
The 89-year-old lawmaker is undoubtedly a political titan, especially in California. However, recent reports have raised concerns about her cognitive abilities at this advanced age and accelerated the pressure on her to retire.
Alex Padilla, California’s incoming senator, confirmed to reporters at the Senate Democrats’ weekly press briefing that Feinstein did indeed inform the caucus at their luncheon Tuesday that she would be retiring in early 2024.
Senator Dianne Feinstein told reporters Tuesday that she had not announced any plans to retire hours after her office sent out an email statement stating exactly that
She was swarmed by reporters Tuesday afternoon on her way to the Senate votes
“You know, it would be impossible to write the history of California politics — it would be impossible to write the history of American politics — without acknowledging the seminal career of Senator Dianne Feinstein,” Padilla said.
“I want to make it clear, as it was clear to us in the conference, it is not finished. We still have more than a year and a half left. She has decided not to run again, but she will serve the remainder of that term.’
Her departure sets the stage for a bitter battle for her California seat.
In a statement emailed Tuesday, she confirmed she would retire at the end of her current term after her first election in 1992.
“I’m announcing today that I will not be running for re-election in 2024, but intend to do as much as I can for California by the end of next year when my term ends,” she said.
Democratic Congressmen Adam Schiff and Katie Porter have already announced that they will be running for their seat.
Rep. Barbara Lee has also hinted that she could run, although she did not make the formal announcement.
“I championed several priorities for California and the nation in 2018: preventing and responding to wildfires, mitigating the impact of record-breaking droughts, responding to the homelessness crisis, and ensuring all Americans have access to affordable, quality health care.” She added.
“Congress has legislated on all of these issues for the past several years, but more needs to be done — and I will continue that effort,” Feinstein added.
The 89-year-old is the oldest woman in the Senate and has recently faced questions about whether she’s up to the job
Feinstein played a key role in the nation’s first ban on assault weapons and helped validate the release of documents detailing the CIA’s use of torture.
However, her approval among California voters has fallen, with just 30 percent supporting her performance in a poll last year.
But decades earlier, Feinstein made a splash on the political scene as San Francisco’s first female mayor.
She took the job in 1978 after the assassination of the late Mayor George Moscone and Harvey Milk, then a colleague of hers on the San Francisco board of directors.
Her successful tenure as mayor ended in 1988, and after a failed run for governor in 1990, Feinstein rose to the Senate by special election in 1992.
She and former Senator Barbara Boxer became the Sunshine State’s first female senators.