Alleged Rand Paul attacker releases bizarre statement blaming incident on 'trivial' dispute
- The attorney for the man who allegedly assaulted Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said in a statement that they "sincerely hope that Sen. Paul is doing well and that these two gentlemen can get back to being neighbors as quickly as possible."
- Paul suffered five broken ribs and bruised lungs in the attack.
The man who allegedly assaulted Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, 59-year-old Rene Boucher, released a bizarre statement through his attorney on Monday.
In it, the attorney, Matthew Baker, wrote that the attack "has absolutely nothing to do with either's politics or political agendas" and instead was centered on "a very regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial."
It is not clear why Boucher, Paul's next-door neighbor, allegedly assaulted him on Friday, as authorities have yet to release a motive. Police have charged Boucher with fourth-degree assault. Boucher and Paul are both in the medical field in Bowling Green, Kentucky - Paul is an ophthalmologist, and Boucher is an anesthesiologist.
Jeff Jones, a registered nurse who worked with Boucher, told The Washington Post that Boucher's politics were "liberal" and that Boucher "was active on social media and said some negative things about the Republican agenda."
"We sincerely hope that Sen. Paul is doing well and that these two gentlemen can get back to being neighbors as quickly as possible," Baker added, noting that the two men have been neighbors for 17 years.
Read his full statement:
Paul was severely injured in the altercation, a top aide said on Sunday in a statement.
Paul, who was a 2016 GOP presidential candidate, sustained five broken ribs and bruises to his lungs, his chief of staff, Doug Stafford, said, adding that there is no timetable for his return to Washington, DC.
Police had originally characterized Paul's injuries as "minor," The Washington Post reported.
"This type of injury is caused by high-velocity severe force," Stafford said Sunday. "It is not clear exactly how soon he will return to work, as the pain is considerable as is the difficulty in getting around, including flying."
Paul's recovery could take months, Stafford added.
Paul was on the field during a Republican congressional baseball practice in June where a gunman wounded five people, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise. The Kentucky Republican was not among those hurt.