Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the longest-serving woman in the United States Senate, passed away this morning at the age of 90.
Sen. Feinstein had been battling several different health conditions over the past year. Just this February she was hospitalized for three months due to complications with shingles and encephalitis. Most recently this August she was hospitalized again after a fall in her home.
Sen. Feinstein leaves behind a remarkable legacy in the Senate. As a centrist, she fought to find common ground between the belligerent Republican and Democratic Parties and thus drew criticism from both sides. Sen. Feinstein is most known for her pushes for assault weapon bans, with the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, and the unsuccessful effort to renew the law in 2012.
Sen. Feinstein notably fought against the Central Intelligence Agency when she was the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. She would spearhead the investigation into the CIA and their “black sites” where it was found in the 6,700-page “torture report” that the CIA was guilty of using brutal torture methods against prisoners.
Sen. Feinstein leaves behind a strong legacy of fighting for what she believes in, and getting things done. California Governor says he will fill her seat temporarily until the 2024 Senate election.
