US senator assaulted at home, reportedly by neighbour

WASHINGTON: Republican Senator Rand Paul suffered minor injuries after being attacked at his home in the southern state of Kentucky by a neighbor who tackled him from behind, according to a news report Saturday.

State troopers arrived at Paul’s home in Warren County on Friday afternoon in response to a report of an assault and arrested 59-year-old Rene Boucher, Kentucky State Police said in a statement.

“Upon their arrival, it was determined that Rene Boucher had intentionally assaulted Paul, causing a minor injury,” the statement said.

Boucher was charged with one count of fourth degree assault.

According to an arrest warrant obtained by Politico, Paul was tackled from behind by his neighbor Boucher, who admitted to his role in the attack.

Paul was seeking medical attention for a “possible rib injury” that caused difficulty breathing, and bleeding from cuts around his mouth, the warrant said.

“Senator Paul was blindsided and the victim of an assault,” Paul spokeswoman Kelsey Cooper told Politico. “The assailant was arrested and it is now a matter for the police. Senator Paul is fine.”

It was not known what prompted the attack.

Paul, 54, ran an unsuccessful bid last year to be the Republican nominee for the White House.

The politician with libertarian leanings stresses individual rights and privacy, and was a key “no” vote in sinking a plan by his party to overhaul president Barack Obama’s health care reforms. – Agencies