He suffered several broken ribs and bruises to his lungs. One of Mr. Paul’s advisers, Doug Stafford, told The New York Times in November that Mr. Paul had cuts to his nose and mouth and had trouble breathing. He attributed the injuries to “high-velocity severe force.”
Mr. Paul later contracted pneumonia and had to seek medical treatment. He returned to work 10 days after the attack.
The attack against Mr. Paul, a Republican, was not politically motivated, Mr. Baker said, adding that it was “a matter that most people would regard as trivial.” The dispute has been a longstanding difference between the two, who have been neighbors for 17 years, Mr. Baker said.
He said Mr. Boucher is “very meticulous” about how he maintains his property, while Mr. Paul “has a little bit of a different approach.” The lawns in the gated community of River Green in Bowling Green are “picture perfect,” Mr. Baker said, adding that the senator maintains piles of compost and lawn clippings around his property.
Mr. Boucher has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge in state court in Kentucky. Mr. Baker said he expected that charge to be dismissed in conjunction with a guilty plea in federal court. Mr. Boucher is free on $7,500 bond in the state case.
The United States attorney for the Southern District of Indiana was assigned the case after the United States attorney for the Western District of Kentucky recused itself.
“Just as we are committed to protecting the American people, the F.B.I. will not tolerate violence directed against members of Congress,” said Amy S. Hess, special agent in charge of the F.B.I. field office in Louisville, Ky., which investigated.
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