Feinstein faces backlash after praising Graham for ‘one of the best set of hearings’ she has been in

“Chairman, I just want to thank you. This has been one of the best set of hearings that I’ve participated in,” she said. “And I want to thank you for your fairness and the opportunity of going back-and-forth.”

“It leaves one with a lot of hopes, a lot of questions, and even some ideas. Perhaps some good bipartisan legislation we can put together to make this great country even better. So thank you so much for your leadership,” Feinstein added.

Some Senate Democrats were reportedly worried about how Feinstein would handle the election-year nomination in her role as ranking member of the committee. One Democratic senator, who spoke to Politico on condition of anonymity prior to the hearings, said some Democratic lawmakers preferred to see the 87-year-old senator replaced by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island or Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois.

“She’s not sure what she’s doing,” the Democratic senator said of Feinstein. “If you take a look at Kavanaugh, we may be short two senators because of that. And if this gets [messed] up, it may be the same result.”

She also faced flak from some on the Left after she voiced opposition to eliminating the legislative filibuster, which some Democrats have said they want to do should the party win back the Senate in November.

Demand Justice, a liberal judicial group that has voiced opposition to Barrett’s nomination and confirmation, released a statement after Feinstein praised Graham that called for her to either step aside from her leadership position or be removed from the role.

“It’s time for Sen. Feinstein to step down from her leadership position on the Senate Judiciary Committee. If she won’t, her colleagues need to intervene,” said Brian Fallon, executive director of Demand Justice.

“She has undercut Democrats’ position at every step of this process, from undermining calls for filibuster and Court reform straight through to thanking Republicans for the most egregious power grab in the modern history of the Supreme Court,” he continued.

Feinstein soon became a trending topic on Twitter after her praise for Graham.

Prior to departing the room where the hearings were being held, Feinstein, sans mask, was seen shaking hands and hugging Graham, a move that further drew scrutiny.

The Washington Examiner reached out to Feinstein’s office for comment about her Thursday plaudits and the subsequent criticism that she has faced but did not immediately receive a response.