Fellow Democrats in Congress are urging Sen. Dianne Feinstein to resign due to her lengthy absence from the Senate caused by health issues. Rep. Ro Khanna was the first member to publicly call for her resignation on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s time for @SenFeinstein to resign,” he tweeted. “We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties. Not speaking out undermines our credibility as elected representatives of the people.”

Khanna stated, “We have a crisis in the judiciary with extremist judges stripping away women’s rights. You can’t preach on television about the danger of these judges and then sit silently as Senator Feinstein misses vote after vote to confirm pro-choice judges.”

“It’s time for California officials who care deeply about reproductive rights to call on her to step down at this moment in history,” he said.

There are concerns that Senate Democrats are being hindered by Feinstein’s extended absence, particularly with regard to the confirmation of judges, as she holds a critical vote on the Judiciary Committee.

Rep. Dean Phillips quickly chimed in to say he agrees with Khanna. “Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable,” Phillips tweeted. “But I believe it’s now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate and a dereliction of duty for those who agree to remain quiet.”

Senator Feinstein, aged 89, has not voted in the Senate since February 16th. In early March, she disclosed that she had been diagnosed with shingles. On Wednesday, she issued a statement in response to calls for her resignation but did not specify when she plans to return to Washington. Feinstein stated that she will return as soon as her doctors confirm that it’s safe for her to travel.

“I understand that my absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee, so I’ve asked Leader Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until I’m able to resume my committee work,” she added.

On Wednesday night, a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that he plans to request the Senate next week to permit a temporary appointment of another Democratic Senator to the Judiciary Committee. However, this proposal might require unanimous consent or 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.

Although Senator Feinstein has stated that she will not seek re-election, she still has 20 months left in her term. Representative Khanna has endorsed Representative Barbara Lee as her replacement. Representative Lee is running against other notable California House Democrats such as Adam Schiff and Katie Porter. In the event that Senator Feinstein decides to retire early and leaves a vacancy, Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that he plans to appoint a black woman to the seat, which could give Representative Lee a significant advantage. Never mind appointing the best person for the job. Apparently, as long as she has the right color skin, she’s in.