Calls for Feinstein to Resign Elicit Accusations of Double Standard for Women
Critics are highlighting what they say is a double standard against Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) as she faces calls to resign from her post over her health.
Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna (Calif.) and Dean Phillips (Minn.) called on Feinstein, 89, to step down on Wednesday over her prolonged absence from the upper chamber due to her health.
The calls come as other male senators, including John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), have taken leaves of absence for health-related issues in recent months.
On Wednesday, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pointed to absences from male lawmakers, suggesting there was a double standard at play.
“It’s interesting to me. I don’t know what political agendas are at work that are going after Sen. Feinstein in that way. I’ve never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way,” Pelosi told reporters, whose comments came shortly before Khanna called on Feinstein to step down.
Other Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.), echoed Pelosi’s sentiment.
“There have been male senators who have been away from the chamber for quite a period of time and haven’t necessarily had this call for resignation,” Murphy said Thursday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” adding that Feinstein “deserves to have a little time to recover from this injury and illness to be able to get back to the Senate.”
Last month, Feinstein revealed she was hospitalized with shingles. On Wednesday, she asked for a replacement on the Senate Judiciary Committee as she continues to recover and work from home in San Francisco.