The attorney for the man accused of violently attacking Sen. Rand Paul in his own yard said Monday that the clash had “absolutely nothing to do” with politics and was a dispute over something “trivial” – deepening the mystery over what led to the attack that left the Republican senator with five broken ribs.
The attack was serious enough that it’s unclear when Paul will return to work on Capitol Hill.
But 59-year-old Rene Boucher was released on $7,500 bail Saturday and – so far – faces only a misdemeanor charge. While more charges could be forthcoming, it remains unclear exactly what led to the attack in the first place.
Matthew J. Baker, an attorney for the defendant, said in a statement Monday to Fox News that his client and the senator have been neighbors for 17 years and were “prominent members of the local medical community and worked together when they were both practicing physicians.”
But in the thick of intense congressional debates over taxes and health care, Baker said politics was not the issue.
“The unfortunate occurrence of November 3rd has absolutely nothing to do with either’s politics or political agendas,” he said. “It was a very regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial. We sincerely hope that Senator Paul is doing well and that these two gentlemen can get back to being neighbors as quickly as possible.”
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