Feinstein Makes Speech Mid-Vote, Until Staffer Steps In: ‘Just Say Aye’

Sen. Dianne Feinstein is flanked by aides as she returns to the Senate Judiciary Committee at the Capitol following a more than two-month absence as she was being treated for a case of shingles on May 11, 2023. J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo

During a Senate Appropriations Committee meeting, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) confused colleagues when she launched into a speech mid-vote.

The committee had met to approve 12 appropriation bills, and when called upon for the verbal vote, Ms. Feinstein had a halting start as she searched for words, ignoring her colleague committee chair Patty Murray’s (D-Wa.) instructions to “just say aye.”