Dianne Feinstein returns to Senate — still has shingles ‘side effects’
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday after an absence of more than two months due to a case of shingles, vowing to soldier on despite admitting she is “still experiencing some side effects.”
“I have returned to Washington and am prepared to resume my duties in the Senate. I’m grateful for all the well-wishes over the past couple of months and for the excellent care that I received from my medical team in San Francisco,” the 89-year-old said in a statement.
“Even though I’ve made significant progress and was able to return to Washington, I’m still experiencing some side effects from the shingles virus. My doctors have advised me to work a lighter schedule as I return to the Senate. I’m hopeful those issues will subside as I continue to recover.”
The former San Francisco mayor was hospitalized until March 6 before returning to her home to recover.
Feinstein’s office clarified in the statement that she was experiencing “vision and balance impairments” due to the virus and that her doctors want her to “maintain a lighter schedule as she returns to work.”
The senator arrived at the Capitol Wednesday afternoon in a wheelchair, which her office said she may need to navigate the halls of Congress.
Her return gives Democrats their full complement of 51 senators after John Fetterman of Pennsylvania went back to work following treatment for clinical depression.
“The Senate faces many important issues, but the most pressing is to ensure our government doesn’t default on its financial obligations,” Feinstein said. “I also look forward to resuming my work on the Judiciary Committee considering the president’s judicial nominees.”
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) had expressed concern about how Feinstein’s absence was affecting judicial confirmations in recent months but said his colleagues would move forward as best they could without her.
Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat came under fire recently from members of his own party who said Feinstein’s empty seat on the committee was keeping seats on the federal bench vacant, with some House Democrats calling on Feinstein to resign due to her health issues.
Democrats have confirmed 126 judges to the federal bench during the Biden administration.
Feinstein announced in February she would not seek re-election in 2024 after reports surfaced that her mental acuity was lessening.
