On Thursday, Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna (CA) called on 89-year-old Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein to retire with dignity rather than continue her extended absence due to illness.
Khanna made his comments during an interview on MSNBC after the New York Times reported that Feinstein has experienced a series of illnesses her team didn’t previously disclose, developing Ramsay Hunt syndrome and encephalitis.
“First, let me say I admire her career. She has had an extraordinary career. But it is sad for anyone to see and it is sad for her own colleagues to see. I’m hopeful that people who are close to her can talk to her and just say, ‘Look, end your service with dignity. Step aside, let the governor appoint someone,’” Khanna said.
“It’s painfully obvious to people, I went out and said something many people are thinking,” he explained.
“For her own dignity, legacy, and career it would be good [for her to resign],” Khanna added. “It would be good for California. We all have seen an athlete that plays one or two more seasons, that’s what this started out as. But now it is just painful, it is painful to watch. And my hope is, I know there are people who are close to her… I don’t think it should be forceful; I think they should have a loving conversation about it being time.”
