Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) was assaulted at his Bowling Green home on Friday afternoon, say local police. The suspect, Rene A. Boucher, was arrested after what was originally reported as “causing a minor injury,” to the Republican lawmaker.
In a statement released after the incident, the Kentucky lawmaker’s spokesperson Kelsey Cooper said “Senator Paul was blindsided and the victim of an assault. The assailant was arrested and it is now a matter for the police.
Below is a photo of the suspect’s mug shot.
Per KSP, Rene Boucher, 59, assaulted @RandPaul causing minor injury last night Boucher charged 4th degree assault More soon at @bgdailynews pic.twitter.com/5EUthFUOEY
— Joe Imel (@joeimel) November 4, 2017
But the attack was much worse than originally reported.
Senator Paul suffered five broken ribs and a bruised lung when his neighbor assaulted him from behind.
And his neighbor Rene Boucher is a Trump-hating Socialist.
The Washington Post reported:
Jeff Jones, a registered nurse who worked with Boucher at the Bowling Green Medical Center, described Boucher’s politics as “liberal.”
“He was active on social media and said some negative things about the Republican agenda,” Jones said.
“I think it was unfortunate that they lived so close together,” he added.
A Facebook page that appeared to be Boucher’s included links to articles and memes critical of President Trump and a news article about a Montana Republican congressional candidate who attacked a reporter the day before winning his seat. The page said Boucher is a former Army pain-management specialist and graduated from the College of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines in 1984.
By late Saturday, the page had been overrun by other Facebook users criticizing Boucher for the alleged assault. On Sunday, the page appeared to be blocked from public view.
Jim Bullington, a former member of the city commission, knows both men. He said Sunday that Boucher is divorced and lives alone. Bullington described Boucher as a socialist.
“He’s pretty much the opposite of Rand Paul in every way,” Bullington said in an interview.