Nikki Haley, the former UN Ambassador and current Republican contender for President, is stepping into the on-going fray centering on aging California Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Feinstein, who continues to recover from shingles and has been absent from the Senate, has drawn controversy from fellow Democrats over impeding progress in confirming judges to the Federal bench, owing to her position on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Driving the news: Haley, in an Op-Ed for Fox News, called on the 89-year-old San Francisco Mayor-turned-Senator to resign from her post amid looming questions of mental ability to do the job.
- Haley referred to Feinstein as a “trailblazer who’s made an indelible mark in public service,” before adding, “But it’s been obvious for quite some time that she’s in significant mental and physical decline.”
- “At 89 years old, she is a prime example of why we need mental competency tests for politicians,” the former South Carolina governor wrote.
Prime time for Haley: Haley has made age a key message of her presidential campaign.
- As she kicked off her candidacy, Former CNN anchor Don Lemon argued earlier this year that Haley was past her prime, which was met with criticism across the board.
- In March, Haley called for mandatory mental competency tests for elderly politicians during a speech launching her campaign.
- The plank which was seen as a jab at President Biden and former President Trump, who are both over 75 years old. Both men are seen as leading contenders in the 2024 race for the White House.
