The attack by a neighbor who tackled Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul while he was mowing the lawn was just a garden-variety dispute over shrubbery, according to an astonishing new report.

Paul's neighbor got arrested after he allegedly assaulted the Senator while he was mowing the lawn of his Kentucky home – in an attack that left Paul with five broken ribs and potentially missing key Senate votes.

The attorney for the next-door neighbor who attacked Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul causing the senator to break ribs and potentially miss key votes said it had 'absolutely nothing' to do with politics – and was over a 'trivial' matter. But he failed to specify what the fight was about.

A D.C.-based New York Times reporter has dug up just how trivial it was, posting on Twitter that the problem between neighbors 'stemmed from a dispute over 'some sort of planting or flora issue around the properties.'

A man has been arrested and charged with assaulting and injuring U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky (left pictured with Trump in October)

The report was sourced anonymously to 'two Kentuckians.'

The immediate report provided no further details on the nature of the matter, or whether the issue was about the appearance or species of the plants themselves, or some sort of border dispute between neighbors that is not entirely uncommon.

Another report raised the possibility that the spat could have an anti-dumping component: a neighbor told CNN the dispute was over grass clippings and yard waste that went onto each others lawns.

The Times reported that Paul had stepped off his riding mower when he got tackled. He was wearing protective headphones and never saw the alleged assault coming. The story also noted that Paul grows pumpkins, 'composts and has shown little interest for neighborhood regulations.'

'The unfortunate occurrence of November 3 has absolutely nothing to do with either's politics or political agendas,' said Matthew Baker, an attorney for Rene Boucher, Paul's 59-year old neighbor, said Monday.

Boucher got arrested for tackling Paul while he was mowing the lawn. Paul's office did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment about the

Neighbors said the pair share a corner adjacent to their homes and have been in the midst of a feud

The attorney continued: 'Senator Paul and Dr. Boucher have been next door neighbors for 17 years. They are also prominent members of the local medical community and worked together when they were both practicing physicians.

The lawyer called it 'a very regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial.' He added: 'We sincerely hope that Senator Paul is doing well and that these two gentlemen can get back to being neighbors as quickly as possible.'

Kentucky State Police said in a news release Saturday that Paul suffered a minor injuries when Boucher assaulted him at his Warren County home in a gated community on Friday afternoon. Boucher was charged with fourth degree assault.

The release did not provide details of the assault or the nature of Paul's injury. In a statement, Paul spokeswoman Kelsey Cooper said the Republican senator is 'fine.'

The statement said Paul was 'blindsided' by the assault but she did not provide further details.

Only later did it emerge that Paul suffered more serious injuries.

On Sunday, Paul's chief of staff told the Washington Post Paul sustained five broken ribs, as well as bruised lungs and displaced rib fractures, and that he is in pain. Recovery could take months.

'This type of injury is caused by high velocity severe force. It is not clear exactly how soon he will return to work, as the pain is considerable as is the difficulty in getting around, including flying,' said Doug Stafford, Paul's chief of staff.

Paul's absence could cause scheduling issues for home-state colleague Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

'We're thinking about him and hoping he'll recover quickly and be able to come back to the Senate very soon,' McConnell said while in Kentucky.

Boucher was released from jail Saturday on a $7,500 bond. He has a court date scheduled for Thursday.

The FBI is investigating whether a federal law was violated, ABC News reported. It is a federal crime to assault a member of Congress.

The Bowling Green Daily News reported that the Class A misdemeanor charge applies to a person who 'intentionally or wantonly causes physical injury to another person,' and is is punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a fine of as much as $500.

Neighbors told local TV station WAVE that the pair share a corner adjacent to their homes and have been in the midst of a feud.

Boucher allegedly ran onto Paul's property and tackled him from behind.

According to the arrest warrant the Republican politician suffered injuries to his face and had trouble breathing because of a blow to the ribs.

The FBI is also investigating to see if the assault is politically motivated. Online records state that Boucher's party affiliation is Democrat.

Paul spoke about his green thumb to US Weekly in 2015.

'Some would say I have a green thumb. I love working in the yard on my days off. Mowing the lawn is very therapeutic for me,' he said.

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Boucher, of Bowling Green, is charged with fourth-degree assault with a minor injury.

Jim Bullington, a former city commissioner, told the Post the two men often got into heated arguments about politics.

Kentucky State Police said in a news release Saturday that Paul suffered a minor injury when 59-year-old Rene Boucher (above) assaulted him at his Warren County home on Friday afternoon

Online real estate sites say Paul's home is worth around $500,000.

According to the Bowling Green Daily News, Boucher is an anesthesiologist and pain specialist who developed a product called Therm-a-Vest.

It is a cloth vest partially filled with rice that is supposed to help with back pain.

He once marketed the product on the QVC shopping channel.

In May, Boucher posted on his Facebook page about Trump 'bullying' NATO leaders and an article about and Congressman Greg Gianforte assaulting The Guardian's Ben Jacobs in Bozeman, Montana.

In a statement, Paul spokeswoman Kelsey Cooper said the Republican senator (above) is 'fine'

Boucher (above) is an anesthesiologist and pain specialist who developed a product called Therm-a-Vest