Dianne Feinstein death – news: Tributes pour in for California senator

New York Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority Senate leader, gave an emotional tribute to Dianne Feinstein on the floor this morning, following news of her passing.

Mr Schumer and Feinstein were close allies, having served in Congress together since 1999 when Mr Schumer assumed office.

“Earlier this morning, we lost a giant in the Senate. Senator Dianne Feinstein was one of the most amazing people who ever graced the Senate, who ever graced the country. She had so many amazing, wonderful qualities wrapped up in one incredible human being. She was smart, she was strong, she was brave, she was– compassionate. But maybe the trait that stood out most of us was her amazing integrity. Her integrity was a diamond,” Mr Schumer said.

Mr Schumer acknowledged that Feinstein’s impact on the Senate opened the door for many more women to become successful lawmakers.

“Today there are 25 women serving in this chamber and every one of them would admit they stand on Dianne’s shoulders,” he said.

“The sign of a leader is someone who dedicates the whole of their spirit for a cause greater than themselves, the sign of a hero is someone who fights for others, who endures for others, no matter the cost, no matter the odds, and a sign of a friend is someone who stands by your side to fight the good fight on the good days and on the bad.”

Choking back tears, Mr Schumer looked back at Feinstein’s now empty desk in the chambers.

“Dianne Feinstein was all of this and more, friend, a hero for so many, a leader who changed the nation. A leader who changed the nature of the Senate and who changed the fabric of the nation, America. – America for the better,” he said.

Dianne Feinstein’s career saw her rise to the highest echelons of government. She became mayor of San Francisco after the assassination of George Moscone in 1978. As a US senator, she authored the 1994 ban on assault weapons. But as her tenure in the Senate progressed in recent years and months, she faced questions about her declining memory and faced numerous health complications as she announced she would not seek re-election.

Feinstein was considered a hard-driving boss – once notably saying “I don’t get ulcers, I give them” – who nonetheless focused on work as much as she demanded from her team. Her final vote was earlier this week on advancing a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown.

Eric Garcia remembers Dianne Feinstein:

Having lived to be 90 years old, Dianne Feinstein leaves behind an impressive legacy both personally, legislatively and financially.

It was well-known that Feinstein was considered one of the wealthiest senators having an estimated net worth of $87.4 million as of 2018, according to Open Secrets.

In her financial disclosures, Ms Feinstein had invested heavily in real estate, specifically Carlton Hotel Properties LP, which owns the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco.

Feinstein’s late husband Richard Blum, was a wealthy investor and businessman as well.

Earlier this year, Feinstein filed a lawsuit against the trustees of Blum’s estate claiming they were committing financial elder abuse by denying her payments from the blind trust she set up when he died in 2022.

After struggling with some personal health issues over the last two years, Ms Feinstein turned over power of attorney to her only daughter, Katherine Feinstein.

For months prior to her death on Thursday evening, California Senator Dianne Feinstein had struggled with health issues.

Ms Feinstien, who died at 90 years old, had stirred controversy in Congress for remaining in her seat despite calls for her to resign as she obviously struggled with some health issues.

In 2017, Ms Feinstein had an artificial pacemaker inserted.

But it wasn’t until 2022 when Ms Feinstein’s ability to serve was called into question as it was reported she was struggling to remember colleagues’ names

Approximately 10 weeks later, in May, Ms Feinstein returned to the Senate where her office revealed she had developed Ramsay Hunt syndrome and encephalitis as part of the shingles diagnosis.

A New York Times report revealed that Ms Feinstein relied heavily on aides to get around Capitol Hill, help her vote on certain measures, recall where she was going and explain what was happening.

The report claimed Ms Feinstein “expressed confusion about the basics of how the Senate function” like questioning why vice president Kamala Harris was present in the Senate chamber last year to help cast a tiebreaking vote.

In August, Ms Feinstein was hospitalised after experiencing a “minor fall”. Her office said Ms Feinstein was only taken as a precaution and she was cleared to return home and to work.

Even while Republican lawmakers and some Democrats called on Ms Feinstein to leave the Senate, she refused.

Up until Ms Feinstein’s death on Thursday, the status of her health had been questioned by other members of Congress but her office had not released any statements.

Footage from 2008 shows the moment Dianne Feinstein became the first woman to open a US presidential inauguration as she ushered in the start of Barrack Obama’s presidency.

Ms Feinstein, a pioneering Democrat politician, died at the age of 90 on Thursday evening.

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy opened up a news conference on Friday by paying tribute to the late Senator Dianne Feinstein.

“Moments ago, the flags at the Capitol were lowered in memory of Dianne Feinstein. As a long-standing senator, she broke barriers and blazed trails for women,” Mr McCarthy said.

Mr McCarthy, a representative of California worked alongside Ms Feinstein, who represented California in the Senate, since he assumed office in 2007.

He reflected on working alongside Ms Feinstein on the California Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which he called a historic act.

“I remember the hours and nights that we’d have to work to try to work through the challenges. We come from different parties and we put the states first.”

Mr McCarthy added that Ms Feinstein inspired women from both sides of the aisle with her legacy.

In a statement released on Friday, President Joe Biden extended his condolences to Dianne Feinstein and her family following her death and reflected on her legacy in Congress.

“Senator Dianne Feinstein was a pioneering American. A true trailblazer. And for Jill and me, a cherished friend,” Mr Biden said.

In San Francisco, she showed enormous poise and courage in the wake of tragedy and became a powerful voice for American values. Serving in the Senate together for more than 15 years, I had a front-row seat to what Dianne was able to accomplish.

It’s why I recruited her to serve on the Judiciary Committee when I was Chairman – I knew what she was made of, and I wanted her on our team. There’s no better example of her skillful legislating and sheer force of will than when she turned passion into purpose, and led the fight to ban assault weapons.

“Dianne made her mark on everything from national security to the environment to protecting civil liberties. She’s made history in so many ways, and our country will benefit from her legacy for generations.

Often the only woman in the room, Dianne was a role model for so many Americans – a job she took seriously by mentoring countless public servants, many of whom now serve in my Administration. She had an immense impact on younger female leaders for whom she generously opened doors. Dianne was tough, sharp, always prepared, and never pulled a punch, but she was also a kind and loyal friend, and that’s what Jill and I will miss the most.

As we mourn with her daughter Katherine and the Feinstein family, her team in the Senate, and the people of California, we take comfort that Dianne is reunited again with her beloved Richard. May God Bless Dianne Feinstein.”

Tributes to Dianne Feinstein, the longest-ever running female senator in US history, poured in after the 90-year-old died on Thursday night.

Feinstein passed away after a series of health battles — and a three-decade-long career in the Senate. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle commended the California Democrat’s legacy and life-long commitment to public service.

“She was one of the most powerful voices in the Senate, and she blazed a trail for generations of women who followed her into elected office,” Sen Kirsten Gillibrand wrote.

Chris Murphy, a Democratic Senator from Connecticut, also commented on her commitment to stopping gun violence: “From 1994, when she passed the Assault Weapons Ban as a first term Senator, until the tragedy in Newtown, Dianne Feinstein was a lonely voice fighting against gun violence. The modern anti-gun violence movement, now stronger than the gun lobby, would not exist but for Dianne.”

California governor Gavin Newsom dedicated a lengthy post on X/Twitter to Senator Dianne Feinstein following her death.

“She was a political giant, whose tenacity was matched by her grace. She broke down barriers and glass ceilings, but never lost her belief in the spirit of political cooperation. And she was a fighter — for the city, the state and the country she loved. Every race she won, she made history, but her story wasn’t just about being the first woman in a particular political office, it was what she did for California, and for America, with that power once she earned it,” Mr Newsome wrote.

“That’s what she should be remembered for. There is simply nobody who possessed the strength, gravitas, and fierceness of Dianne Feinstein. Jennifer and I are deeply saddened by her passing, and we will mourn with her family in this difficult time.”

Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House, released a statement on the death of Senator Dianne Feinstein.

“Paul, my daughter Nancy Corinne and I were heartbroken to learn of the passing of our dear friend Dianne Feinstein,” Ms Pelosi said in a statement.

“Her indomitable, indefatigable leadership made a magnificent difference for our national security and personal safety, the health of our people and our planet, and the strength of our Democracy.”

Ms Pelosi also represents California in Congress. The two women worked closely throughout their careers, both being trailblazers for women with long-serving careers.

“Dianne was a pioneering woman leader, who served as San Francisco’s first female Mayor with unmatched courage, poise and grace. Standing strong amid horror and heartbreak – from the brutal murders of Harvey Milk and George Moscone to the deadly HIV/AIDs epidemic – she offered our City a beacon of strength and hope,” Ms Pelosi said.

The former Speaker of the House called Ms Feinstein a champion for “the Golden State” and “gender justice.” She highlighted Ms Feinstein’s work to pass the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, the Violence Against Women Act and more.

“Personally, it was a great honor to serve alongside Dianne for decades – from the hilly streets of San Francisco to the hallowed halls of Congress. We were not only colleagues, but neighbors and friends. My daughter, Nancy Corinne, has long been an admirer and devoted friend of Senator Feinstein, and we were all close friends with her and her late husband, Richard.“Dianne’s extraordinary career will continue to inspire countless young women and girls to pursue public service for generations to come. May it be a comfort to her daughter Katherine and her husband Rick, her granddaughter Eileen, and the entire Feinstein family that all Americans joins them in mourning at this sad time.”