A spokesperson for Dianne Feinstein said California's senior senator missed a critical debt ceiling vote on Monday "due to a family emergency," but failed to provide further details as legislators race to avoid a government shutdown.
The 88-year-old also reportedly missed votes last week.
Feinstein is "carefully following the vote situation and will return to Washington as soon as possible," The Hill and Forbes reported. A shutdown could happen as early as Friday if a deal is not reached to suspend the federal debt limit.
The spokesperson clarified that Feinstein would have voted "yes."
It's not clear when Feinstein will be back in Washington, D.C.
Republicans voted Monday to block legislation to fund the government beyond Sept. 30. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will try and get the measure through with a simple majority vote in bypassing the filibuster, a move GOP lawmakers have vowed to block, if possible.
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