VIDEO: 90-Year-Old Feinstein Advised to Vote ‘Aye’ on Defense Bill

Confusion Strikes Senator Feinstein ⁤During Committee Hearing

During a recent committee hearing, Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), 90, found herself in a moment of confusion that required ⁢some guidance.

Feinstein was asked to participate ‌in a roll call vote ⁤on the Defense Appropriations‍ Act,‍ but instead of casting her vote, she began delivering a speech in ⁤support of the bill.

“I would like to support a ‘yes’ vote on‍ this. It provides ⁣$823 billion, that’s an increase of $26 billion for the Department of Defense and it‍ funds priorities…”

It took a staffer’s intervention and fellow Democratic senator Patty Murray (Wash.) stepping in to remind ‍Feinstein to simply say ⁤”aye” for her vote.

Feinstein’s response, “Okay … just?” before finally giving her affirmative vote, highlights the latest ⁤incident in a series‍ of confusing moments for the elderly senator. Earlier this year, she was absent for three months due to a severe ‌case of shingles, which caused vision and balance impairments from Ramsay Hunt ⁤syndrome.

Upon her⁤ return in May, Feinstein seemed to have forgotten about her absence, stating to reporters, ‌”No, I haven’t been gone. ⁢No, I’ve been here. I’ve been voting. Please. You either know or don’t know.”

Some Democrats, ​including Reps. ‍Ro ⁤Khanna‌ (Calif.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), have called for Feinstein to step‌ down following her prolonged health struggle.

In February, Feinstein announced her plans to ​retire after ‌this ​term, but she ‍quickly seemed to have ‌forgotten about the announcement.

A ⁢book released earlier this year revealed another mishap, where Feinstein⁢ mistook one black senator ⁢for ⁤another. In 2021, ‌she approached ⁢Sen.⁢ Tim Scott (R., S.C.) and congratulated him on his service, mistaking him for ⁣Raphael⁣ Warnock, ⁤the newly elected Democratic senator from Georgia.