FACT CHECK: Kelly Ayotte Lies About Her Record on Abortion, IVFLatest News Year in Review

FACT CHECK: Kelly Ayotte Lies About Her Record on Abortion, IVF

This weekend, candidate for governor and former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte sat down for an interview with WMUR's CloseUp where she repeatedly lied about her track record of stripping away Granite Staters' reproductive rights, including access to abortion and fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization.

When asked about her vote for the Blunt amendment - which would have given insurers and employers the ability to deny coverage for any care, including abortion, IVF, and birth control - Ayotte lied and claimed it had "absolutely nothing to do with IVF." Ayotte was fact-checked in real time but continued to stand by her lie.

Ayotte also falsely claimed that abortion rights in New Hampshire have already been "enshrined in law," despite the fact that New Hampshire is the only state in New England that has not codified abortion rights. Ayotte's refusal to answer the question proves she is opposed to codifying Roe, and would not protect abortion rights as governor.

These lies are in addition to Ayotte's long and dangerous track record of attacking Granite Staters' reproductive freedoms both while serving in the U.S. Senate and after. As Senator, she led the charge for a national abortion ban, called for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, voted against funding for Planned Parenthood, and voted to make it harder for women to get access to birth control. After losing her 2016 reelection campaign, Ayotte went on to serve as the "sherpa" for Neil Gorsuch's Supreme Court nomination, paving the way for Roe v. Wade to be overturned.

"Kelly Ayotte knows how deeply unpopular her track record of attacking Granite Staters' reproductive rights is, so her new strategy is to flat-out lie," said DGA States Press Secretary Emma O'Brien. "Granite Staters know the truth: Kelly Ayotte is an anti-choice extremist with the track record to match, and would attack those rights further in the corner office. No amount of lying or fabrication will convince New Hampshire voters otherwise."

###