Todd Blanche warned that lying is a crime during tense Senate grilling

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) engaged in a heated confrontation with Attorney General Todd Blanche Tuesday during a Senate Appropriations hearing over the Department of Justice, or DOJ's, anti-weaponization fund and whether a pardoned child molester could receive compensation.

Van Hollen pressed Blanche about a Trump pardon recipient who allegedly molested two children after receiving clemency and promised the victims money he expected from the DOJ fund. When demanding that Blanche commit to excluding the individual from payouts, Van Hollen was met with a combative response.

Blanche accused Van Hollen of "obviously lying" and used air quotes around "slush fund," prompting Van Hollen's sharp rebuke.

Blanche argued the fund didn't exist when the individual made those statements. But Van Hollen rebutted, arguing the fund was designed to help President Donald Trump's friends and advised Blanche against lying to Congress.

The controversy reflects Democratic concerns about the $1.776 billion fund Trump announced yesterday.

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