AOC calls on Dianne Feinstein to resign
The call comes as the Democratic Senator continues to be absent
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York called on Senator Dianne Feinstein of California to resign amid her continued absence from the Senate, CNN reported.
Ms Ocasio-Cortez posted her comments on the Bluesky social media app, which is meant to be a competitor to Twitter. Ms Feinstein, the oldest-serving Senator at 89, has been out of the Senate since March when she contracted shingles.
Democrats have only 51 seats in the Senate and Ms Feinstein’s place on the Senate Judiciary Committee means that Democrats are unable to confirm any judicial nominees out of committee that do not have Republican support.
Last month, Ms Feinstein asked to temporarily give up her spot on the committee and have Senator Ben Cardin replace her. Republicans rebuffed the request, though they said they would seat a permanent replacement were Ms Feinstein to resign.
The self-described democratic socialist said that Ms Feinstein, who announced earlier this year that she would not seek re-election, should step aside.
“I think criticisms of that stance as ‘anti-feminist’ are a farce,” Ms Ocasio-Cortez said.
Some Democrats have hinted that calls on Ms Feinstein to resign the Senate seat that she won in 1992 are sexist given that some Senators served until they were far older than she was and others died in office.
“Her refusal to either retire or show up is causing great harm to the judiciary - precisely where repro rights are getting stripped. That failure means now in this precious window Dems can only pass GOP- approved nominees,” Ms Ocasio-Cortez said.
Ms Ocasio-Cortez’s spokesperson Lauren Hitt confirmed to CNN that the Bluesky posts were authentic.
The congresswoman’s spokesperson also confirmed that Ms Ocasio-Cortez would not run a primary campaign against incumbent Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand next year.
“She is not planning to run for Senate in 2024. She is not planning to primary Gillibrand,” she said.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments