A post shared on X, formerly Twitter, claims California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein purportedly tweeted that she’d received her flu and COVID-19 vaccines prior to her recent death.
Verdict: False
The claim is false. Feinstein’s press secretary denied the claim’s validity, according to USA Today.
Fact Check:
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has chosen Laphonza Butler to fill the late Feinstein’s open Senate seat, according to NBC News. Butler is set to be sworn in on Tuesday, The New York Times reported.
“Just received the new Flu and and COVID vaccine, make sure to get yours!” the supposed tweet from Feinstein purports. “And 2 days later, she’s dead. Go figure,” the Facebook post’s caption reads.
The claim is false, however. Check Your Fact found no credible news reports suggesting Feinstein made the purported tweet. Likewise, the claim is neither referenced on her website nor on her verified social media accounts. It is also worth noting that Feinstein’s verified X handle is @SenFeinstein and not @dianefeinstein, as the purported tweet claims. Furthermore, Feinstein’s first name is spelled incorrectly in the purported tweet.
Feinstein’s press secretary, Ron Eckstein, denied the claim’s validity, according to USA Today.
“That screenshot is from a fake account. Sen. Feinstein’s first name was Dianne, not Diane,” he explained to the outlet.
Feinstein, who was the oldest sitting senator, died Thursday at the age of 90, The Associated Press reported. Feinstein’s death followed a series of health challenges, which began in 2018 and more recently included a fall that occurred in her San Francisco home, according to the outlet.
Although Feinstein’s cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, and she struggled with memory lapses, doctors have ruled out dementia, the Los Angeles Times reported. (RELATED: Did The Arizona Senate Lay Out RICO Indictments Against Katie Hobbs?)
Feinstein’s body will lie in state at San Francisco City Hall Wednesday ahead of her funeral, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Check Your Fact contacted Feinstein’s spokesperson, who declined to comment on record.