Editorial urges Democrats to take action if Dianne Feinstein is unfit for office

A new editorial is highlighting Democratic lawmakers' concerns about their aging colleague Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)

Over the last few weeks, Democratic lawmakers have expressed deep concerns about Feinstein's ability to serve due to recent interactions with the longtime lawmaker. At 88-years-old, Feinstein's mental competency is being questioned as lawmakers revisit the idea of placing age limitations on those who hold public office, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.

Per the editorial, "Four U.S. senators, including three Democrats, as well as three former Feinstein staffers and the California Democratic member of Congress told The Chronicle in recent interviews that her memory is rapidly deteriorating. They said it appears she can no longer fulfill her job duties without her staff doing much of the work required to represent the nearly 40 million people of California."

The SF Chronicle's Tal Kopan and Joe Garofoli's editorial also shares details about one Democratic lawmaker's recent interaction with Feinstein as they highlighted the difference in that encounter compared to those of the past.

"Instead, the lawmaker said, they had to reintroduce themselves to Feinstein multiple times during an interaction that lasted several hours," they wrote, adding "Rather than delve into policy, Feinstein, 88, repeated the same small-talk questions, like asking the lawmaker what mattered to voters in their district, the member of Congress said, with no apparent recognition the two had already had a similar conversation."

The lawmaker, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, shared details about the interaction with Feinstein.

“I have worked with her for a long time and long enough to know what she was like just a few years ago: always in command, always in charge, on top of the details, basically couldn’t resist a conversation where she was driving some bill or some idea. All of that is gone,” the lawmaker said. “She was an intellectual and political force not that long ago, and that’s why my encounter with her was so jarring. Because there was just no trace of that.”

Another Democratic senator also weighed in saying, “It’s bad, and it’s getting worse."

The latest editorial comes days after Feinstein's statement was released on March 28. Although she declined to conduct a full interview, she did acknowledge the personal challenges she's facing. However,

“The last year has been extremely painful and distracting for me, flying back and forth to visit my dying husband who passed just a few weeks ago,” she said. “But there’s no question I’m still serving and delivering for the people of California, and I’ll put my record up against anyone’s.”