Planned Parenthood targets Kavanaugh in new ads launched on first day of confirmation hearing

Planned Parenthood is targeting Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in a six-figure ad buy released on the day his Senate confirmation process began. 

The TV ads will air in Washington, D.C., and Alaska, home of Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R), a key vote in the confirmation process. 

{mosads}The ads in D.C. will air through this week on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday. Ads in Alaska will air on TV and radio. 

The ads highlight the “risk” Kavanaugh’s nomination poses to abortion access in the U.S. and urges senators to vote against his confirmation.

“These ads launching today make clear that people want a Supreme Court nominee that will protect their right to safe, legal abortion,” said Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. 

Planned Parenthood has come out swinging against President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, arguing that his confirmation would spell the end of Roe v. Wade, the ruling that affirmed abortion rights nationwside. 

Kavanaugh has not publicly said whether he thinks the case was decided correctly, but he told Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) he considers it to be “settled law.” 

But supporters of abortion rights say that’s not good enough, noting that Trump vowed during his campaign to only nominate “pro-life” Supreme Court justices that would overturn Roe v. Wade.

Kavanaugh’s hearing was off to a fiery start Tuesday, with Democrats slamming Republicans for not giving them time to review more than 42,000 documents released to the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday. 

Protestors also interrupted the hearing several times, with Capitol Police making 22 arrests Tuesday morning.

Tuesday’s hearing will largely focus on opening statements from senators, while formal questioning of Kavanaugh will begin Wednesday.