by WASHINGTON — Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., experienced more complications than were publicly disclosed from a recent case of shingles that left her absent from Washington for nearly three months.
Feinstein, 89, had also suffered from Ramsay Hunt syndromewhich occurred when the shingles spread to his head and neck, and a case of encephalitisthat it’s inflammation of the brain, a person familiar with his situation said Thursday.
The New York Times first reported previously unrevealed complications.
In brief appearances on Capitol Hill this week, Feinstein appeared to have paralysis on the left side of his face, a side effect of Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
A Feinstein spokesperson later confirmed the complications.
“The senator previously revealed that she had several complications related to her shingles diagnosis. As discussed in the New York Times article, those complications included Ramsay Hunt syndrome and encephalitis,” the spokesperson said in a statement Thursday night.
“While the encephalitis resolved on its own shortly after she was discharged from the hospital in March, she continues to have complications from Ramsay Hunt syndrome,” the spokesperson said.
One of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s daughters, Nancy Corrine Prowda, has been helping Feinstein navigate the halls of Congress as she recovers from shingles, fueling speculation among Washington experts that the political motives to prevent Feinstein from withdrawing from the Senate.
“Nancy Corrine has been a dear friend of Senator Feinstein for more than 40 years,” a Feinstein spokesperson said in a statement earlier Thursday. “She has been spending time with the senator as he continues to recover from shingles.”
Feinstein has already announced that she will not seek another Senate term, setting up a competitive Democratic primary to replace her. If Feinstein retires before her term is up, California Gov. Gavin Newsom would name a temporary replacement, which some say could give one of the candidates an advantage in the primary race.
Feinstein has been using a wheelchair. political first reported Prowda’s help.
Feinstein returned to Capitol Hill last week after being diagnosed as single in February and hospitalized in San Francisco. She attended a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting where she helped Democrats advance three judicial nominees to the floor on party-line votes.
Some Democrats have called for Feinstein to resign from Congress due to her health, but she has been adamant about staying.
He said this year that he plans to retire from Congress at the end of 2024 after serving three decades in the Senate and more than 50 years in public office. She is the oldest sitting senator and the longest-serving senator from California, having been elected in 1992.
zoe richards contributed.
