Senator’s Lawsuit Against Fmr. New Bedford Man in Third Trial Day

Bowling Green, KY — The civil suit filed by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul against a former New Bedford man is now in its third day at trial.

Senator Paul is suing his Bowling Green neighbor, Rene Boucher, a former resident of New Bedford and a New Bedford High School graduate, after Boucher physically attacked Paul on his front lawn in November of 2017.

Boucher was tried in federal court and sentenced to 30 days in prison and a $10,000 fine in March of 2018.

WBKO News reports in day two of the civil trial Tuesday, Boucher again expressed remorse for his actions as he took the stand.

"What I did was wrong. I'm sorry I did it," said Boucher. "At that time in federal court, I apologized to Senator Paul and his wife. And once again, I apologize again, and I am sorry for what I did."

The attack left Senator Paul with several broken ribs, a damaged lung, and chronic pain.

Paul's wife, Kelley Paul, took the stand, as well, and described how she had to care for her husband following the attack.

"To get him into bed I would sort of stand on the top of the bed and try to help lower him down and then pull him back up," said Mrs. Paul. "But he really couldn't lie down for very long."

Boucher said the day before the incident, he had doused a brush pile near his property line that had been left by Senator Paul with gasoline and set it on fire. The pile exploded, burning Boucher's face, neck, and arms. Boucher said he was still in severe pain the next day and "was not thinking rationally" when he spear-tackled Senator Paul.

Senator Paul is seeking up to $500,000 in compensatory damages and up to $1 million in punitive damages.