On Wednesday, Sen. Rand Paul offered an update on his condition, telling his Twitter followers that he had six broken ribs and pleural effusion. | Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Rand Paul adviser: Senator and alleged attacker hadn't spoken in years prior to incident

A senior adviser to Sen. Rand Paul said Thursday that the senator and the man who assaulted him last week had not had a conversation "in many years," disputing media reports that the two neighbors had feuded over landscaping.

“Last week Sen. Paul was vigorously assaulted by someone in his neighborhood. This is a serious criminal matter involving serious injury, and is being handled by local and federal authorities. As to reports of a longstanding dispute with the attacker, the Pauls have had no conversations with him in many years," Doug Stafford said in a statement. "The first 'conversation' with the attacker came after Sen. Paul's ribs were broken. This was not a 'fight,' it was a blindside, violent attack by a disturbed person. Anyone claiming otherwise is simply uninformed or seeking media attention."


Paul was attacked last week at his Bowling Green, Kentucky, home. Paul’s attacker, his neighbor, 59-year-old retired doctor Rene Boucher, allegedly tackled the senator as he was mowing his lawn and has been charged with misdemeanor assault. The Courier-Journal, Louisville’s newspaper, reported earlier this week that the two men had feuded regularly over landscaping issues.

But Paul (R-Ky.) appeared to dispute that notion with a pair of posts to Twitter on Wednesday, linking to a Breitbart News story headlined “Rand Paul’s neighbors say reports blaming savage assault on ‘landscaping dispute’ are fake news” and one from The Washington Examiner headlined “Rand Paul's neighbors rip media 'landscaping dispute' reports.”

In its report, the Examiner said Boucher’s social media accounts were peppered with posts critical of President Donald Trump and of Republicans, although it stopped short of suggesting that the attack was politically motivated.

Boucher, charged with fourth-degree assault, entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment in court in Bowling Green on Thursday, according to The Associated Press. The charges were unchanged.

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On Wednesday, Paul had offered an update on his condition, telling his Twitter followers that he had six broken ribs and pleural effusion, a buildup of fluid between the chest and the lungs.

“Kelley and I appreciate the overwhelming support after Friday’s unfortunate event. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers,” Paul (R-Ky.) wrote on Twitter. “I appreciate all of the support from everyone. A medical update: final report indicates six broken ribs & new X-ray shows a pleural effusion.”

Cristiano Lima contributed to this report.