Rand Paul adviser on alleged assault: ‘This was not a fight, it was a blindside’

An aide for Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Thursday that a neighbor’s alleged assault of the lawmaker was a “blindside, violent attack,” pushing back against reports the incident stemmed from a long disagreement over landscaping.

Paul’s neighbor, Rene Boucher, pleaded not guilty Thursday to a fourth-degree assault charge after he allegedly attacked the senator outside his home. Paul suffered six broken ribs in the incident.

“As to reports of a longstanding dispute with the attacker, the Pauls have had no conversations with him in many years. The first ‘conversation’ with the attacker came after Sen. Paul’s ribs were broken,” Doug Stafford, Paul’s senior adviser, said in a statement. 

{mosads}“This was not a fight, it was a blindside, violent attack by a disturbed person,” Stafford continued. “Anyone claiming otherwise is simply uninformed or seeking media attention.”

Paul on Wednesday tweeted that he has six broken ribs and fluid buildup around his lungs. It is unknown when he will return to the Senate, because the injury makes it difficult to travel.

The New York Times reported earlier this week that the argument leading to the alleged assault began over landscaping. But Paul on Wednesday tweeted without commentary two reports questioning that was the cause. 

Boucher’s lawyer said Monday that the feud was not related to politics, but was over a “trivial” matter. The two have been neighbors for 17 years. 

Boucher faces up to a year in jail if convicted. He is due back in court Nov. 30 for a pre-trial hearing.