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Paul recovering from assault injuries
Washington Post

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, on Sunday was recovering from injuries suffered in an alleged assault.

Paul, a second-term senator, suffered five broken ribs when he was ‘‘allegedly assaulted by a neighbor’’ on Friday afternoon at his Warren County, Ky., home.

Senior adviser Doug Stafford said it is unclear when Paul will return to work since he is in considerable pain and has difficulty getting around. Stafford said this type of injury is marked by severe pain that can last for weeks to months.

On Sunday, Paul made his first public comments since the incident, tweeting that his wife ‘‘Kelley and I appreciate the overwhelming support after Friday’s unfortunate event. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.’’

Kentucky State Police on Friday charged Rene Boucher, 59, with fourth-degree assault with a minor injury. He was being held at Warren County jail on Sunday in lieu of $5,000 bond, State Police said.

Robert Porter, a friend of Paul’s, said that the senator was mowing his lawn moments before the attack. The senator did not see Boucher approach as the properties of Paul and Boucher are adjacent.

‘‘He didn’t get any severe injuries to his face,’’ Porter said late Saturday, declining to share more details on the injuries. Paul’s return to Washington will be ‘‘a game day decision. Day by day,’’ he added.

People who know both men said they are well-known medical professionals in this southwestern Kentucky town.

Paul is an ophthalmologist who has practiced in town since moving there with his wife in 1993. He has continued providing free medical care since becoming a senator, setting aside time multiple times each year to privately perform medical procedures for low-income patients.

Boucher is an anesthesiologist and the inventor of the Therm-a-Vest, a cloth vest partially filled with rice and secured with Velcro straps that is designed to help with back pain.

A motivation for the attack was unclear.

He worked at several local medical facilities through the years, according to public health records.

While a motive is not officially known, 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.

Boucher’s purported Facebook page 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 US Army pain management specialist who had graduated from the College of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines in 1984.

Washington Post