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Hillary Clinton Returns to the Senate for Dinner Date

Ex-presidential candidate spent an hour with Sen. Dianne Feinstein

Dianne Feinstein and Hillary Clinton together when Clinton was in the Senate. (CQ Roll Call file photo)
Dianne Feinstein and Hillary Clinton together when Clinton was in the Senate. (CQ Roll Call file photo)

Hillary Clinton found herself back in the Senate Thursday evening and took time to have dinner with a friend and former colleague.

Over a glass of California chardonnay and a salmon dinner, Clinton caught up with Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the California Democrat’s hideaway office on the Senate side of the Capitol.

Clinton was in town for the unveiling of departing Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid’s portrait. Feinstein invited Clinton to dinner after Clinton confirmed she would be at the Capitol.

Clinton did not respond to reporters’ questions as she walked from the office to the elevator. But Feinstein said the dinner was “wonderful.”

“I love that woman,” Feinstein said.

Feinstein worked with Clinton when she was a senator from New York. She let Clinton use her hideaway office when Clinton first arrived, and said she still has Clinton’s thank you note in her office.

Asked how Clinton was handling life after her unsuccessful presidential bid, Feinstein said, “Anybody that’s lost a big election knows it’s never easy, and I’m sure it isn’t easy, but she’s lost, I think, none of her stamina, none of her charm. None of her warmth.”

“She’s accepted it,” Feinstein said. “And that’s what makes it hard. She has accepted it.”

Feinstein said Clinton recalled enjoying her time in the Senate, adding she didn’t think Clinton would try and return to the chamber. She declined to say what’s next for the former secretary of State, noting, “Time is a friend right now.“

“I think she just wants to take some time and recoup,” Feinstein said. “This is hard. You can imagine. It’s really hard and she’s resilient. I’m convinced with that. Everything’s good. Everything’s good, except the result.”

Feinstein said they didn’t really talk about President-elect Donald Trump, but Feinstein filled her in on her recent efforts to address the California drought.

“It was just girl-to-girl and a quick drink,” Feinstein said.

Contact Bowman at bridgetbowman@rollcall.com and follow her on Twitter @bridgetbhc.

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