Feinstein's Actions: Legal Or Illegal?

Dianne Feinstein, a former senator from California, was accused of insider trading in 2020. The Department of Justice investigated Feinstein's stock sales, which occurred days after a Senate Intelligence Committee briefing on the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. The investigation was closed in May 2020, and no charges were filed.

Did Feinstein break the law with insider trading?

In March 2020, the New York Times alleged that Senator Dianne Feinstein, along with some other senators, traded stocks after receiving a Senate Intelligence Committee briefing on the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the American economy. The Department of Justice conducted an investigation into Feinstein's stock sales, which closed on May 26, 2020.

Feinstein sold between $1,500,000 and $6,000,000 in stocks days after the briefing. A spokesperson for Feinstein responded that most of the stock sales were made by Feinstein’s husband, and that “she has no involvement in any of her husband’s financial decisions.” Feinstein herself answered questions from federal law enforcement agents and provided documents to the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of the investigation. Aides from Feinstein's office confirmed that the Department of Justice notified them of the conclusion of the investigation into the trades.

Did Feinstein break the law by revealing sensitive details about the hunt for serial killer Richard Ramirez?

In 1985, Dianne Feinstein, then the mayor of San Francisco, held a press conference to address the murder of Peter Pan by serial killer Richard Ramirez, also known as the Night Stalker. During the press conference, Feinstein revealed sensitive details about the investigation, including the calibre of the gun used, the type of shoe worn by the perpetrator, and the fact that footprints had been found at the crime scene. This information had not previously been made public, and Feinstein's disclosure angered investigators, who knew that Ramirez was following news coverage of his crimes. Following the press conference, Ramirez disposed of his shoes by throwing them off the Golden Gate Bridge.

While Feinstein's actions were not illegal, they were seen as a serious mistake that jeopardised the investigation. Ramirez was eventually caught and convicted of his crimes, but Feinstein's revelation of crucial evidence may have allowed him to evade capture for longer than he otherwise would have. Feinstein's actions also prompted criticism from the media, with one source stating that she had "unknowingly tipped the killer off and almost derailed the entire investigation."

Did Feinstein break the law by leaking confidential information about the CIA's interrogation techniques?

In 2014, Senator Dianne Feinstein, then chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, released a report on the CIA's use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" on detainees in the aftermath of 9/11. The report concluded that the CIA's interrogation program was brutal, mismanaged, and ineffective, and that it broke U.S. law.

The report caused a political firestorm, with critics lambasting it as inaccurate and error-filled. However, Feinstein defended the report's findings, arguing that its release was essential to avoid repeating history. She also emphasised the importance of the CIA operating within the law and being subject to oversight, despite the challenges posed by the agency's tradecraft of deception and self-protection.

While the report did not find that the CIA had acted in contravention of executive orders, it did highlight the role of medical professionals in reviewing and approving forms of torture, as well as the involvement of the American Psychological Association in justifying the program.

Feinstein has since sponsored an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to formally outlaw the use of torture by any government agency. This followed a 2009 executive order signed by President Obama that ended the use of torture by the government.

Did Feinstein break the law by voting for the Iraq War?

As a member of the Democratic Party, Dianne Feinstein was the senior senator representing California in the U.S. Senate from 1992 until her death in 2023. Feinstein was one of five Democrats in the Senate who voted in 2002 for the resolution authorising the Iraq War. She later told Mother Jones that this was the decision she regretted most.

In 2004, Feinstein sponsored a 10-year extension of the ban on assault weapons as an amendment to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. However, the act itself failed, and Feinstein's efforts to extend the ban were unsuccessful.

In February 2007, Feinstein warned Republicans not to block consideration of a measure opposing President Bush's troop increase in Iraq, calling it a "terrible mistake" to prevent debate on the top issue in America. In May of the same year, Feinstein voted for an Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, which continued to fund the Iraq occupation without a firm timetable for withdrawal. Feinstein said:

> I am deeply disappointed that this bill fails to hold the President accountable for his Administration's flawed Iraq War policy. The American people have made their voices clear that there must be an exit strategy for Iraq. Yet this President continues to stubbornly adhere to more of the same.

In June 2017, Feinstein voted for a resolution by Rand Paul and Chris Murphy that would block President Trump's $510 million sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia. In March 2018, she voted against tabling a resolution spearheaded by Bernie Sanders, Chris Murphy, and Mike Lee that would have required President Trump to withdraw American troops from Yemen within 30 days unless they were combating Al-Qaeda.

Did Feinstein break the law by opposing capital punishment?

No, Feinstein did not break the law by opposing capital punishment.

Dianne Feinstein was a member of the Democratic Party and served as a United States senator from California from 1992 until her death in 2023. Feinstein was known for her advocacy of gun control, abortion access, environmental protection, and a strong national defense. Feinstein's political career began in 1970 when she was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and she went on to become the first female mayor of San Francisco from 1978 to 1988. Feinstein's support for the death penalty was pivotal to her initial bid for higher office, and she used her support of capital punishment to draw a distinction between herself and the Democratic Party base, which at the time was more left-leaning than the overall state population. However, in 2018, Feinstein revealed that she had changed her view of the death penalty, stating that "the risk of unequal application is high and its effect on deterrence is low". Feinstein's shift in position on capital punishment went largely unnoticed, and her staff could not pinpoint exactly when the shift occurred. Feinstein's opposition to capital punishment did not make her a lawbreaker, as there is no law requiring support for the death penalty.

Frequently asked questions