Kentucky Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) announced that he would “limit” his work in August after having surgery to remove a part of his lung damaged in the 2017 assault on him by his neighbor.
In a tweet published on Monday morning, Paul revealed that he had lung surgery over the weekend to remove a part that was damaged when he was assaulted by his neighbor — Rene Boucher — two years ago.
“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, [and] 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
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) August 5, 2019
As IJR previously reported, Boucher broke six of the Kentucky senator’s ribs — with three displaced fractures — and caused a buildup of fluid between the lungs and chest, called a pleural effusion, after he had tackled Paul during a clash between the two men.
Paul also suffered from pneumonia due to his wounds.
An attorney for Boucher told Fox News that the dispute was over “trivial” matters and had “absolutely nothing to do” with anything political.
Boucher — a retired anesthesiologist — said that the assault stemmed from his agitation with a lawnmower Paul was using that blew leaves into his yard.
A spokesman for Paul pushed back against this in a statement to Fox News, claiming that “there was no ‘longstanding dispute’” and calling Boucher’s “description” of the event “untrue.”
“It is impossible to have a dispute when no words of disagreement were ever spoken — neither immediately nor at any other time before the attack occurred,” Paul’s spokesman added.
Boucher pleaded guilty to the federal charge of assaulting a member of Congress in March 2018 and served a 30-day prison sentence that June. He was subjected to a supervised release of one year, 100 hours of community service, a $10,000 fine, and was not allowed to be in contact with the family of the Republican senator.
A Kentucky jury also awarded Paul over $580,000 in damages in January — $200,000 for pain and suffering, $375,000 in punitive damages, and $7,834 to cover medical expenses.
“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.”
Dipsh#t shoulda stabbed you in the eye, traitor.
Necessitating brain removal.
Cancer. Not a two year old beating. Hope it spreads to others in government/governo mentis.