Biden planned to nominate anti-abortion lawyer to federal judgeship, emails show

White House planned to submit Chad Meredith's nomination as part of deal with Mitch McConnell to avoid holding up Biden's other nominations

The office of Kentucky's governor, Andy Beshear, has shared emails confirming that Joe Biden intended to nominate Chad Meredith, a conservative lawyer who has previously defended anti-abortion legislation, to a federal judgeship.

Reports of Meredith's potential nomination have sparked outrage among progressives and abortion rights advocates, even as the White House has dodged questions about the matter. Biden is already seen by some as not taking a strong enough lead on defending abortion rights.