The conservative Judicial Crisis Network will launch a $1.5 million ad blitz Monday featuring a female friend of Brett Kavanaugh who has known him for over three decades and attended Yale with him as an undergraduate in an effort to defend his character following allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman while in high school.

Why it matters: What appeared to be a slam-dunk confirmation process for Kavanaugh is being derailed by the allegation — just days before the Senate Judiciary Committee was expected to vote on his nomination.