Witnesses Say Paul Was ‘Ambushed’ by Boucher While the Senator Was Mowing His Lawn

Police have not described the exact circumstances around the assault. A statement from Paul’s office said, “Senator Paul was blindsided and the victim of an assault. The assailant was arrested and it now a matter for the police,” according to the Bowling Green Daily News. WAVE’s Jobina Fortson reports, quoting a witness, that Paul had been mowing his lawn when he was “ambushed” by Boucher.

According to the Bowling Green Daily News, police say Boucher came on to Paul’s property and tackled him from behind. Police said Paul suffered small cuts to his face and “and had trouble breathing due to a potential rib injury.” He was examined by a doctor. Boucher admitted to tackling the senator, according to police.

Boucher’s daughter, Danielle, is Facebook friends with Paul’s son, William. WAVEreports that Boucher and Paul are neighbors. Public records show the houses are next to each other and share a lawn in a gated neighborhood in Bowling Green.

The station adds in its report that the FBI is investigating to see if the attack was politically motivated. WAVE’s Jobina Fortson tweeted that neighbors are saying that Paul and Boucher “had an ongoing feud.” Online records show that Paul lives along Lakeside Way in Bowling Green.

2. Dr. Boucher Was a Pain Specialist & Invented a Rice Filled Vest that Is Used to Alleviate Back Pain

In 2005, Boucher appeared on QVC marketing a rice-filled vest that was designed to alleviate back pain, reported the Bowling Green Daily News. The vest retailed at $30 and had to be microwaved before use. The website for Therm-a-Vest is no longer active. WAVE reports that Boucher retired in 2015.

3. Boucher Shared an Article on His Facebook Page About a Republican Congressman ‘Body Slamming’ a Reporter

In May 2017, Boucher shared a story on Facebook about Republican Congressman Greg Gianforte assaulting The Guardian’s Ben Jacobs in Bozeman, Montana. The assault was described as a “body slam” at the time.

Boucher is a registered Democrat. He is shown through Facebook postings to be high critical of President Donald Trump, an advocate for gun control and healthcare reform. There does not seem to be any posts that target Senator Paul.

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 Boucher writes in his Facebook bio that he is in a relationship. The Bowling Green Daily News article about Boucher’s pain relieving vest saw him cite his wife, Lisa, as a reason for its success. Boucher’s son, Evan, played in the first professional Ultimate Frisbee Championship game for San Francisco in Philadelphia in February 2016.

4. Dr. Boucher Could Face a Year in Prison

The Bowling Green Daily News reports that Boucher is being held at Warren County Regional Jail in lieu of a $5,000 bond. The report says that if convicted of the Class A misdemeanor, Boucher could face a year in prison. The Daily News report adds that Warren County Attorney Amy Milliken said Boucher could face extra charges, based on the injuries suffered by Paul.

5. Paul Has Recently Been Criticized After He Backed an Anti-Mitch McConnell Candidate in Arizona

Senator Paul has come in for criticism after he backed Arizona senatorial candidate Kelli Ward. Ward has openly said that Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell should step aside as the Senate Majority Leader. Ward said, “Leadership isn’t the most important part of this equation, it’s the policty that the people across the country want us to put in place. It’s the “America First” agenda.” While Paul said about Ward’s problems with McConnell, “I don’t think [Paul and Ward] have to agree on everything. I see a little different perspective coming from Kentucky and that being my fellow senator. But I do and have opposed leadership on a number of issues.”