A man has been arrested for assaulting U.S. Senator Rand Paul at his Kentucky home on Friday and causing a "minor injury," the state police said.
Rene Boucher, 59, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, was arrested and charged with one count of fourth-degree assault causing minor injury, the Kentucky State Police said in a statement on Saturday.
Paul and Boucher were acquaintances, said Jeremy Hodges, a state police spokesman, who declined to say what led to the incident.
Paul's office said in a statement the former Republican presidential candidate "was blindsided and the victim of an assault. The assailant was arrested, and it is now a matter for the police. Senator Paul is fine."
Paul was mowing his lawn at the time of the attack, neighbors told the local NBC affiliate, and had ongoing problems with Boucher.
A criminal complaint cited by the network says that Paul "told police that his neighbor came onto his property and tackled him from behind, forcing him to the ground and causing pain."
The FBI has reportedly launched an investigation to establish if the attack was politically motivated.
His office did not immediately respond to questions about the extent of any injuries the 54-year-old senator may have suffered or the circumstances of the incident.
Hodges said Paul's injuries were minor and did not require transport to a hospital.
Boucher was booked into the Warren County Regional Jail. He was released on Saturday after posting a $7,500 bond, Captain Chip Olney of the facility said by phone.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, Olney said. It was unclear if Boucher has an attorney, and he could not be reached for comment late on Saturday.
Boucher admitted to tackling Paul, the criminal complaint says, as cited by NBC.
Paul, an ophthalmologist, dropped out of the race for president in February 2016 and successfully ran for re-election as a senator. In September, Paul opposed a partial repeal of healthcare reforms adopted under former Democratic President Barack Obama, angering President Donald Trump.
Paul last month played golf with Trump and discussed tax reform proposals.
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