FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – U.S. Sen. Rand Paul expressed gratitude to supporters on Sunday after police said he was assaulted at his Kentucky home on Friday afternoon by a neighbor and suffered minor injuries.
Rene Boucher, 59, was released on bond after being charged with one count of fourth-degree assault causing minor injury, authorities said on Saturday.
The Bowling Green Daily News, citing an arrest warrant, said Paul told police his neighbor came on to his property in a gated community just east of Bowling Green and tackled him from behind. The Republican lawmaker, 54, had injuries to the face and trouble breathing because of a rib injury, the newspaper said.
It was not clear what motivated the altercation and Paul did not go to the hospital, police said. Paul was mowing his lawn at the time of the attack, television station WAVE-TV in Kentucky reported.
“Kelley and I appreciate the overwhelming support after Friday’s unfortunate event. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers,” Paul said on Twitter on Sunday morning, referring to his wife.
A man who answered Boucher’s phone on Sunday, when a Reuters reporter asked to speak with him, said: “I’m sorry. I can’t talk.”
Kentucky State Police said on Saturday that Paul and Boucher were acquaintances. The suspect is a retired physician, the Bowling Green Daily News said.
The New York Daily News reported that a Facebook page for Boucher contained numerous postings critical of Republican President Donald Trump.
Paul, an ophthalmologist, ran for the Republican presidential nomination before dropping out of the race in February 2016.
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