Dianne Feinstein returning to Washington on Tuesday

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who has been away from the Senate since February whereas recovering from shingles, will return to Washington on Tuesday, in line with a spokesperson.

She has been recovering in San Francisco.

Feinstein mentioned in April that her return to Washington had been “delayed as a consequence of continued issues associated to my analysis” however mentioned she deliberate to return to the Senate “as quickly as doable as soon as my medical workforce advises that it’s secure for me to journey.”

Throughout her absence, the 89-year-old California senator confronted strain to return to Washington and calls from a number of Home Democrats to resign. Feinstein sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and with out her vote on the panel, Democrats mentioned that they must delay a few of President Biden’s key judicial nominees.

In April, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California became the first member of Congress to name on Feinstein to resign.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez mentioned she believes Feinstein “ought to retire.” The New York Democrat posted on the social media platform Bluesky, “Her refusal to both retire or present up is inflicting nice hurt to the judiciary.”

Throughout her absence, Feinstein pushed again on the criticism, arguing that there had not been a major delay in advancing and confirming judicial nominees.

In April, the California senator requested Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer to briefly change her on the Judiciary Committee, and he proposed that Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin take her spot. However Senate Republicans blocked the hassle, saying the transfer would enable judicial nominees they against advance.

The committee’s prime GOP member, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, mentioned on the time, “She’s an expensive buddy, and we hope for her speedy restoration and return again to the Senate. (However) with all due respect, my colleague, Senator Schumer, that is a few handful of judges that you may’t get the votes for.”

Throughout her absence, a number of of her Republican colleagues accused Democrats of attempting to pressure her into retirement. “They need to go away her alone. She’s sick. She must get nicely so she will get again to work,” Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who can be 89, mentioned. Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy advised reporters that “the individuals which might be attempting to shove her out the door after her years of service ought to cover their heads in a bag. She’s being handled very shabbily and that basically disappoints me.”

Feinstein introduced earlier this yr that she won’t run for reelection in 2024. A lot of Democrats, together with Reps. Katie Porter, Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee have already introduced they are going to run for the open seat in what’s shaping as much as be a aggressive Democratic main.

This story has been up to date with further developments.