Sen. Dianne Feinstein expects to become the next chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Reuters reports.Citing Democratic aides, Susan Cornwell writes Sen. Patrick Leahy is a favorite (D-Vt.) to become chairman of the Appropriations Committee, the post formerly held by the late Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) until he passed away Monday.
Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.) is the judiciary panel’s senior-most member and is retiring in January, which Cornwell writes leaves Feinstein as the committee member with the most experience.
According to The Hill newspaper, Leahy has not yet decided whether he will move to the Appropriations chairman post.
Feinstein will have to step down as chairman of the Intelligence Committee if she takes on the new position, the newspaper reports.
