As tributes pour in for the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein there is something that has been largely overlooked by the media.
Mere hours before she died, she was assisted onto the Senate floor to vote “Aye” in a procedural vote to advance a short-term government funding bill.
The senator held on to the arm of an aide as her hand was raised, leading some users on X, formerly Twitter, to wonder if it was a “Weekend At Bernie’s” situation.
“Diane Feinstein voted on the Senate floor 1 day before her death. She required help- her aides lifted her arm up. Was she already dead? Was it Weekend at Bernies? Did they wheel her corpse out on the Senate floor and lift her arm up to vote?” one X user said.
The senator, despite accusations on the platform, was very much alive during her final vote, as a video showed her waving her hand to other senators unassisted.
But what has many furious is that, in the final hours of her life, she was brought into the Senate to cast a vote at all.
“RIP Dianne Feinstein. I think it’s disgusting how her last days were the Democrat party wheeling her out to vote in the Senate even after she gave up power of attorney,” Tim Young said on X.
“In the last days of her life, Democrats wheeled Sen. Dianne Feinstein into Congress and TOLD her how to vote instead of letting her enjoy the time with her family. That’s elder abuse,” Glenn Beck said.
“Every Democratic member of Congress should be ashamed of themself. Propping up Dianne Feinstein until the hour of her death so she could vote in their favor! What could be more ignorant and horrific than caring more about your policies than your colleague!? These are sick people!” another X user said.
“Anyone on her staff should be ashamed, they were literally pushing her near-dead body to vote even on the day before she died. Feinstein’s legacy will forever be that she clung to power desperately until her last breath, not unlike a feudal lord. A trailblazer for gerontocracy,” another said.
The Daily Mail added:
Feinstein walked in without the wheelchair she used in the final months of her 30-year Senate career as her health deteriorated following a bout with shingles.
After giving her colleagues a brief wave, she was escorted out again following her last fleeting appearance in the upper chamber.
Feinstein subsequently missed two Senate votes in the afternoon.
But later on Thursday she was photographed at home in Washington D.C. with former California congresswoman Jane Harman.
Feinstein, the eldest senator, the longest-serving female senator, and the longest-serving senator from California declared her intention to retire in February. There were demands for her resignation because of health concerns.
After she announced her retirement, President Joe Biden lauded his former Senate colleague, describing her as “a passionate defender of civil liberties and a strong voice for national security policies that keep us safe while honoring our values.”
“I’ve served with more U.S. Senators than just about anyone,” he said in a statement at the time. “I can honestly say that Dianne Feinstein is one of the very best.”
After Feinstein missed votes in late February, her spokesperson said on March 1, “The senator is in California this week dealing with a health matter” and “hopes to return to Washington soon.”
In August, Feinstein, 90, was rushed to the hospital in San Francisco after suffering a major fall.
She reportedly tripped in her home and was injured, but she was released after being treated, and after some tests were completed, the Daily Mail reported.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
