Who Is Rene Boucher? And Why Did He Attack Rand Paul?

Rene Boucher, the man who attacked Rand Paul while he mow the lawn at his Kentucky home, lives next door to the Senator and was frequently seen walking his dogs with Paul.

Boucher is a successful anesthesiologist and pain specialist. He invented the “Therm-A-Vest,” a cloth vest partially filled with rice that when heated can be worn to relieve back pain.

For an unknown reason, Boucher tackled Paul from behind in broad daylight with such force, he broke five ribs and suffered lung contusions. A Senior Advisor for Paul said his injuries can be “life-threatening.”

Senior Adviser Doug Stafford said Paul had three displaced fractures, which can lead to life-threatening injuries. Rib and lung injuries can be among the most painful and recovery can take weeks to months. It’s unclear when the Republican will be able to return to work as he is in considerable pain, has trouble breathing and difficulty getting around, including traveling, Stafford said.

“This type of injury is caused by high velocity severe force,” Stafford said in an email to the AP.

Boucher, 59, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor fourth-degree assault with a minor injury. He was released from custody Saturday on a $7,500 bond. He has a court date scheduled for Thursday. He has not appeared in public since the incident occurred. It is unclear if he has an attorney.

Warren County property records show Boucher lives next door to Paul and his wife.

A spokeswoman for Paul said he was “blindsided” by the attack, but did not provide more details. Police have not said what motivated the attack. Authorities said the FBI checking into the matter to see if the attack was a violation of federal law and possibly politically motivated.

Paul and his wife, Kelley, “appreciate everyone’s thoughts and well wishes and he will be back fighting for liberty in the Senate soon,” Stafford said.

Attacks are very rare in the sleepy community of Bowling Green, where a neighbor says he would often see Paul and Boucher out together “walking their dogs.”

Jim Skaggs, a member of the state Republican Party executive committee, lives in the neighborhood and has known both men for years. He said they disagreed politically, but was shocked to hear of the incident.

“They were as far left and right as you can be,” Skaggs said. “We had heard of no friction whatsoever other than they just were difference of political opinion. Both of them walked their little dogs at about a mile and a half circle, a nice little dog trot. I’d see them out walking, maybe they might stop and speak with each other.” source