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- The neighbor who attacked Republican Sen. Rand Paul did so because of trees in Paul's yard that were "devaluing" the neighbor's property, according to another neighbor who spoke to The Daily Mail.
- It's the latest explanation for the mystery attack that left Paul with six broken ribs and a build-up of fluid in his lungs.
One of Republican Sen. Rand Paul's neighbors told the Daily Mail what she believes led to a fellow neighbor attacking the senator earlier this month, breaking six of his ribs and causing fluid buildup in his lung.
The neighbor, Alicia Stivers, said Rene Boucher, the next-door neighbor who is accused of assaulting Paul, harbored a grudge against the Kentucky senator for spoiling his lakeside view because Paul's trees were "in the way." Boucher was upset that the trees were "devaluing" his home, a $740,000 property he has been trying to sell for a decade, Stivers told the publication.
Stivers was the first person who came to Paul's aid after the November 3 attack in his Kentucky hometown of Bowling Green, according to the Daily Mail.
The Daily Mail, citing property records, said Boucher has tried to sell his house five times within the past 10 years without success.
The latest explanation for the attack comes after neighbors initially said the grievance was over Paul blowing leaves and trimmings into Boucher's yard. Paul seemed to toss cold water on that rationale by tweeting out a pair of stories in conservative outlets that cast doubt on that line of reasoning.
Some online commentators have pointed to Boucher's
Paul returned to the Senate on Monday following a brief absence because of his injuries.