U.S Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) had surgery over the weekend to repair his lung that was damaged in a 2017 attack by his neighbor and will spend the rest of August recovering.
Paul tweeted, “Unfortunately, I will have to limit my August activities. Part of my lung damaged by the 2017 assault had to be removed by surgery this weekend. The doctors, nurses, & staff at Vanderbilt University Medical Center were great. I should be able to return to the Senate in September”.
Unfortunately, I will have to limit my August activities. Part of my lung damaged by the 2017 assault had to be removed by surgery this weekend. The doctors, nurses, & staff at Vanderbilt University Medical Center were great. I should be able to return to the Senate in September
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) August 5, 2019
In November 2017, Paul was the victim of an assault at his Bowling Green home, sustaining what police described at the time as a “minor injury,” The Tennessee Star reported.
The Bowling Green Daily News quoted Paul spokesman Kelsey Cooper in a statement after the assault saying, “Senator Paul was blindsided and the victim of an assault. The assailant was arrested and it is now a matter for the police. Senator Paul is fine.”
Daniel Pike of the Daily News tweeted, “Kentucky State Police say BG man is accused of assaulting U.S. Sen. Rand Paul.”
Kentucky State Police say BG man is accused of assaulting U.S. Sen. Rand Paul. More soon at https://t.co/0e4oaL9gA7. pic.twitter.com/VODOihjrCa
— Daniel Pike (@DPikeBGDN) November 4, 2017
Suspect Rene Boucher pleaded guilty in March 2018 to a federal charge of assaulting a member of Congress, Fox News said.
Paul told police that the attack happened when his “neighbor came onto his property and tackled him from behind, forcing him to the ground and causing pain.” Boucher allegedly was upset about piles of brush on Paul’s property.
Boucher was sentenced to 30 days in prison, Fox News said. He also was sentenced to one year of supervised release, a $10,000 fine, 100 hours of community service, and was ordered to have no contact with the senator’s family.
Boucher broke several of Paul’s ribs in the assault, CBS News said.
The senator had previously undergone hernia surgery at a private hospital in Canada.
Paul in January was awarded more than $500,000 in damages, The Hill said.
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Photo “Rand Paul” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0.
