Pelosi stands by Feinstein amid calls for senator's resignation

Democratic California Rep. Nancy Pelosi is defending Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., amid calls for her resignation over health concerns, and has suggested that such demands stem from sexism.

"It’s interesting to me. I don’t know what political agendas are at work that are going after Sen. Feinstein in that way. I’ve never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way," she said, according to The Hill.

Pelosi's remarks follow calls from House Democrats for Feinstein's resignation, asserting that her absence indicated she could no longer perform her official duties.

Reps. Ro Khanna, of California, and Dean Phillips, of Minnesota, made headlines this week in calling for her resignation.

Feinstein was hospitalized with shingles earlier this year and has been absent from the upper chamber, missing key votes. On Wednesday she confirmed that her return to the Senate had been delayed by health complications and asked that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer appoint a temporary replacement to sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee so as to end the backlog of Biden nominees in need of Senate confirmation.

Pelosi insisted that Feinstein "deserves the respect to get well and be back on duty," adding that "[w]hen women age or get sick, the men are quick to push them aside. When men age or get sick, they get a promotion."

Her remarks come as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has been absent since March following a fall at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, D.C., announced his intent to return to the Senate next week.

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