Dianne
Feinstein, the California senator who served for more than three
decades and was a trailblazer for women in US politics, has died aged
90.
Feinstein was the oldest member of the US Senate and voted as recently as Thursday.
For months, the California Democrat had faced questions about alleged memory and cognitive issues.
In April, she was admitted to hospital after a "minor fall" at her home, the latest in a series of health concerns.
The
former San Francisco mayor had previously announced plans to retire at
the end of next year, but resisted growing calls for her to step down.
In
a statement made after she announced her retirement plans, US President
Joe Biden called her a "passionate defender of civil liberties" with a
"strong voice for national security policies that keep us safe while
honouring our values".
"I've
served with more US Senators than just about anyone," Mr Biden said. "I
can honestly say that Dianne Feinstein is one of the very best."
Earlier
this year, she was absent from Capitol Hill for nearly three months
following a case of shingles. She took on lighter duties upon her return
and moved around the US Capitol using a wheelchair. She sometimes
displayed confusion during interviews, and in committee hearings or
floor votes.
The BBC has reached out to Ms Feinstein's office for comment on her death.
Ms
Feinstein was well known as a vocal advocate for gun control measures,
and an ardent supporter of the assault weapons ban signed into law by
President Bill Clinton in 1994.
Earlier
in life, she became San Francisco's mayor after her predecessor, George
Mascone, and supervisor Harvey Milk were killed by a former supervisor.
She
later recounted rushing to Mr Mascone's office and finding a bullet
wound as she searched for his pulse - an experience she said left an
indelible impression on her.
As
a senator, Ms Feinstein was the first woman to chair the powerful
Senate Intelligence Committee, where she led a years-long review of the
CIA's controversial interrogation programme of foreign terrorists in the
wake of the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
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