California Sen. Dianne Feinstein has relinquished power of attorney to her daughter — even as she continues to serve in Congress at the age of 90, according to a report.
The Democratic senator — who is the oldest member of Congress — has faced calls to resign after health complications kept her away from the Capitol for months earlier this year.
Since returning to Washington DC, she has appeared frail and has had a number of public mental lapses.
Feinstein handed over power of attorney to her daughter, 66-year-old Katherine Feinstein, in part to help handle legal battles over her late husband Richard Blum’s estate, the New York Times reported on Thursday.
In one dispute, Katherine, Feinstein’s only child, is at odds with Blum’s three daughters over the ownership of a luxury beach house owned by Feinstein, according to the paper.
In a separate lawsuit, the two families are feuding over Blum’s life insurance, which Feinstein claims she needs to cover her increasing medical costs, The Times reported.
Feinstein, who has represented California for over 30 years, announced earlier this year that she would not seek re-election in 2024. Several longtime colleagues have leaked to the press that her mental acuity has significantly declined.
Last week, the former San Francisco mayor had to be prompted several times by a colleague to say “aye” when it was her turn to cast her vote on the $831.781 billion Defense Appropriations Bill during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.
Feinstein was briefly hospitalized in February for complications due to shingles. She was released to her San Francisco home, where she recovered for the next two months.
She returned to Washington in May, but seemed confused about her months-long absence when confronted by reporters, insisting that she had not left Congress to recover from the illness, but had been there voting the whole time.
Feinstein relies on staffers to push her wheelchair, remind her how and when she should vote and explain what is happening when she becomes confused, according to a New York Times report earlier this year.
