In a Thanksgiving message that has extra special meaning this year, Sen. Rand Paul on Friday distributed a video thank you card to those who have prayed for his recovery after being attacked while doing yard work earlier this month.

Appearing in his Senate office with his wife Kelley, he looked well and sounded better than he did Monday when he returned to Washington.



Sen. Paul: “Hey, everybody. Thanks for your concern, your prayers, and your thoughts, all of the get well cards.

“It’s been a rough couple weeks, but I’m starting to get better. I’ve been in D.C. for a week. We’re trying to make the tax cut a tax cut for everyone. We’re working really hard on that, and we’re looking forward to a time of family and thanksgiving.”

Kelley Paul: “We’re grateful for your prayers, your well-wishes, and your concern. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.”

In an interview with Secrets upon his return, Paul said that there was “no justification” for the attack allegedly by his neighbor.

Paul was doing yard work on Nov. 3 when he was blindsided by the attack allegedly by Rene Boucher, his neighbor. Boucher was charged with fourth-degree assault and released on Saturday on $7,500 bond.

He suffered six broken ribs, cuts on his face, and has fluid buildup in his chest.

Paul and Boucher share a property line in the gated Rivergreen community in Bowling Green, Ky. Several neighbors reached out to Secrets to reject early claims that the dispute was related to poor landscaping by Paul, and there has never been a complaint about that filed with the community’s homeowners association.

No official reason has been given for the attack and the lawyer for Boucher, 59, said politics was not the cause. Social media posts from Boucher show that he is aggressively anti-Trump and anti-Republican.

“Really if you told me he was doing it for some noble cause to feed starving children somewhere, there is no motive. There is no motive that would justify hitting somebody from behind and breaking their ribs and damaging their lungs, so no, there is no justification for something like that,” he said, pausing often to catch his breath.

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com