During an interview with TMZ reporter Charlie Cotton, U.S.Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) faced repeated questions about whether January 6 rioters, some of whom were convicted and later pardoned, should be eligible for funds from former President Trump's $1.776 billion 'anti-weaponization fund.

' Cruz repeatedly deflected the questions, focusing instead on criticizing President Joe Biden's alleged use of the Department of Justice, which frustrated the reporter.Cotton attempted several times to get a direct response regarding the eligibility of January 6 rioters for the funds.

In the end, Cruz avoided providing a clear answer, defending the rioters as 'peaceful protesters' and suggesting they were targeted by the Department of Justice.The encounter concluded with Cruz quietly leaving via an elevator, leaving the reporter without a definitive response.

The interview highlights the ongoing partisan tensions surrounding the aftermath of January 6 and questions about government spending on politically sensitive issues.