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Sen. Rand Paul has part of lung removed, injury stems from 2017 assault

Paul suffered an injured lung after a neighbor tackled him to the ground

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., leaves the Senate after speaking on the Senate floor about the budget deal on Wednesday, July 31, 2019. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., leaves the Senate after speaking on the Senate floor about the budget deal on Wednesday, July 31, 2019. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
By Emily Kopp
Posted August 5, 2019 at 8:30am

Both senators from Kentucky are on the mend.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul announced Monday that he is recovering from a surgery to treat injuries from his 2017 assault.

“Unfortunately, I will have to limit my August activities. Part of my lung damaged by the 2017 assault had to be removed by surgery this weekend,” Paul said in a tweet. The doctors, nurses, & staff at Vanderbilt University Medical Center were great. I should be able to return to the Senate in September”

Paul suffered six broken ribs and an injured lung after a neighbor tackled him to the ground in late 2017 over what the man said was a dispute about lawn care. Rene Boucher pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal charges of assaulting a member of Congress.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell fractured a shoulder Sunday morning when he tripped outside his home in Louisville, Kentucky, his spokesman said in a statement. 

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