Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., recovering from broken ribs and lung bruising he sustained in an alleged assault by a neighbor, is being told to expect federal charges in the case — indicating a possible alleged political motive, Fox News reported Thursday.
Judge Andrew Napolitano told Fox News' Shepard Smith that unnamed sources inside the Kentucky Republican's Senate office say Paul has been told of expected federal charges against neighbor Rene Boucher.
"If they're considering federal charges, that obviously goes way beyond a simple assault charge — he's currently charged with a low level assault," Napolitano told Smith.
"If it remains at the state level with broken ribs and water in the lungs, may very well be elevated to a felony and go to the county attorney," he added. "If they're looking at federal charges, it sounds like this was politically motivated."
Paul's injuries were initially reported as five broken ribs, but Wednesday, the senator tweeted he had six broken ribs and a pleural effusion — where fluid collects inside the membranes of the lung and chest wall outside the lung.
"It's obviously being vigorously investigated," Napolitano said of the case. "You can read into it a little bit about what comments are coming out of Sen. Paul's office. He's really not going along with 'this is a no big-deal story' . . . [Boucher] could be looking at a 20-year count."
Boucher pleaded not guilty Thursday to fourth-degree assault for the attack on Paul on the lawn of his Bowling Green home last Friday, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail if convicted.
Paul's senior adviser, Doug Stafford, earlier Thursday called the alleged assault a "blindside, violent attack," and vigorously disputed reports Paul and Boucher had been at odds in a longstanding dispute.
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