When longtime California Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away in late September, she left a long line of mourners. But the timing of her last vote on the Senate floor left some observers feeling unnerved. Here is the full story.
Forever a Servant
Dianne Feinstein served as the mayor of San Francisco from 1978 through 1988.
Four years later, she took up residency in the United States Senate.
She Worked Until the End
That was a role Feinstein would hold for the rest of her life, as she passed away in Washington, D.C., in late September during the current Senate session.
One Last Go
Feinstein was in the fifth year of what she vowed would be her final six-year run in Congress.
She was set to finish out that sixth term in 2024.
Tributes Poured In
In the wake of Feinstein’s death, which her office announced on the morning of September 29, tributes poured in from all corners.
Unquestioned Dedication
Though Feinstein was a staunch liberal and a favorite target of conservatives everywhere, few could argue with her dedication to the causes that mattered most to her.
She Brought in Help
Earlier in 2023, for instance, Feinstein had granted her daughter limited power of attorney privileges to help fight a court battle over Feinstein’s late husband’s estate.
Focused on the Job
At the time, the 90-year-old Feinstein said she needed all her energy and focus for her job of helping move the nation forward.
She Left Them Feeling Uneasy
Now, it seems that dedication and focus on the job at hand carried Feinstein through her last hours.
And it also had some observers feeling a little uneasy about the whole situation.
Up to Something Fishy?
With news of Feinstein’s death the day before making the rounds in Washington on the morning of September 29, social media began to warm up with speculation that something fishy was afoot.
Suspect Timing
A pro-Trump “social influencer” named Eric Spracklen, for example, asked his followers how Feinstein could have cast a vote the same day she died.
He Has Questions
“How did Dianne Feinstein vote ‘yea’ yesterday on the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act?” Spracklen tweeted.
Video or It Didn’t Happen
And followers made a call into the wilderness for video proof that the vote actually happened, and that Feinstein had participated.
A Sham Vote?
Could the whole vote have been a sham just to push through a bill that promises to provide training for aviation employees and to improve flight safety all around?
The Truth Is Out There
Well, an online fact-checking site has definitive proof of what happened.
And it’s not as exotic or nefarious as some might want to believe.
They Have Timestamps
According to Snopes, voting for the Aviation Act began at 11:45 AM on September 28.
Feinstein casted her vote at 11:51 AM.
Video to the Rescue
The most telling part of the whole Snopes “investigation” is that the entire vote is on video captured by C-SPAN.
Plain as Day
And, yes, Feinstein can be seen clearly in the video, being led to the Senate floor where she gave her “yay” vote.
One for the Road
This would be the senator’s last appearance in the line of duty, as she would pass away in her D.C. home that night.
The Timing Checks Out
As Snopes says, Feinstein was quite capable of both casting a vote on the morning of September 28 and then shedding her mortal coil that night.
Truth Is Boring-Er Than Fiction
It’s not sexy or scandalous, but that’s the way most conspiracy theories play out in the end.
The post Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s Last Vote Before Passing Raises Questions, But Video Evidence Confirms It first appeared on Mama Say What?!
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / degolden. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
