Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., criticized a pro-Israel lobby group for spending millions of dollars in the primary for the seat being vacated by longtime Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

Van Hollen said organizations such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and crypto-industry groups are trying to buy Hoyer's House seat.

"Voters need to understand that these groups are not investing in this race out of charity," Van Hollen said at a virtual press conference.

"They are spending because they believe the beneficiary of their spending — in this case, one candidate, Adrian Boafo — will be a dependable vote in support of their special interests," Van Hollen added.

AIPAC has spent more than $1 million on ads to boost Boafo, a Maryland state delegate and former Hoyer aide who has been endorsed by the congressman, Politico reported.

Protect Progress, a pro-crypto super PAC, has spent more than $3 million on Boafo, Politico reported.

The ads tout his high-profile endorsements and legislation he has proposed, but do not mention Israel or crypto, according to Politico.

"Voters need to be aware of the fact that these outside groups do not have the voters' interests at heart," Van Hollen, who stressed he has nothing against Boafo, said.

Boafo said he agrees with Van Hollen that big money has no place in politics.

"It's why I'll work with him in Congress to end Citizens United once and for all," Boafo said.

The United Democracy Project, the super PAC affiliated with AIPAC, said in a statement that Van Hollen is "deliberately misrepresenting our views and discriminating against millions of pro-Israel Democrats who are members of AIPAC."

Van Hollen has not endorsed a candidate in the race, but he has been critical of AIPAC in the past.

"It's no secret that AIPAC's position of providing unconditional American taxpayer support for the government of Israel is not a popular position," he said.