https://www.buzzfeed.com/davidmack/rand-paul-neighbor-charges?utm_term=.rxKO436bOn#.fjyrqxvErW
A Kentucky man has been charged with assaulting a member of Congress over a November dispute that turned physical with his neighbor, Sen. Rand Paul, officials announced Friday.
Rene Boucher, 58, of Bowling Green has signed a plea agreement to one count of assaulting a member of congress resulting in personal injury, a felony.
"Assaulting a member of Congress is an offense we take very seriously," said Josh J. Minkler, the US Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. "Those who choose to commit such an act will be held accountable."
While Boucher admitted the assault, he denied that it was politically motivated. Instead, the incident stemmed from a dispute over gardening.
Warren County Regional Jail via AP
Officials said that Boucher "had enough" and tackled Paul after he witnessed the senator stack brush onto a pile near his property. Paul was wearing headphones at the time.
Paul was left with six broken ribs after the incident and was left in "considerable pain," his staffers told BuzzFeed News at the time.
The DOJ also said Paul subsequently contracted pneumonia.
Boucher's lawyer, Matt Baker, said in November that the two men had been neighbors for 17 years and were both once practicing physicians.
