Feinstein Denies Delay In Biden's Agenda, But Her Absence Continues To Cause Turmoil In The Senate (Video)

Feinstein, the Senate's oldest member at 89, has been absent since being diagnosed with shingles in February. Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate, with a 51-49 margin, making one absence a potential obstacle to advancing Biden's nominees and legislative efforts.

Feinstein's absence has put the Senate Judiciary Committee under significant strain, as the panel has been essentially paralyzed without her presence. This has left Democrats without the necessary votes to advance most of Biden's judicial nominees. Tensions over Feinstein boiled over in mid-April as it became clear she would not return after the Senate recess, leading several House Democrats to call for her resignation.

May 08, 2023

On Thursday, Feinstein released a statement rejecting the idea that her absence was causing any delay in a rebuke of her colleagues' concerns. "The Senate continues to swiftly confirm highly qualified individuals to the federal judiciary, including seven more judicial nominees who were confirmed this week," the statement read. "There has been no slowdown."

While acknowledging Feinstein's situation, Durbin expressed concern over the impact of her absence on the Senate Judiciary Committee's ability to conduct its business. "I want to treat Dianne Feinstein fairly. I want to be sensitive to her family situation and her personal situation," he told CNN's State of the Union on Sunday. "But the bottom line is the business of the committee and of the Senate is affected by her absence."

Feinstein has previously announced that she will not seek re-election in 2024, though she has vowed to serve the remaining 20 months of her term. As the Senate continues to grapple with the challenges of a slim majority, the absence of even one member can have significant consequences for advancing the legislative agenda of the President and the Democratic Party.