Schumer 'hopeful' Sen. Feinstein can return to Senate next week

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is "hopeful" that California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein will return for week next week, following her hospitalization with shingles and lengthy recovery.

"We are both hopeful she can return next week," read his notes for reporters of which a Politico photojournalist managed to snap a picture.

Feinstein left the hospital in early March and has remained absent from the Senate as she recovers from the illness, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes as "a painful rash that develops on one side of the face or body. The rash consists of blisters that typically scab over in 7 to 10 days and fully clears up within 2 to 4 weeks."

Her absence from the Senate, however, has frustrated Democrats. The Biden administration's judicial nominations have stalled in her absence, as the majority party has struggled nominations from the Judiciary Committee without her.

She has faced numerous calls to resign and has already indicated that she will not seek reelection in 2024, setting up a fierce primary battle between Democratic hopefuls seeking to claim her position.

A spokesperson for Feinstein confirmed to The Hill that the California lawmaker had spoken with Schumer and that she was recovering, but said that the timeline for her return had not been cemented.

"Senator Feinstein continues to make progress in her recovery, however, we don’t have a timeline yet for her return to Washington which is dependent on her medical team saying it is safe to travel," the spokesperson said. 

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.