保罗参议员的袭击者被控联邦罪

A Kentucky man accused of attacking U.S. Republican Senator Rand Paul has been charged with assaulting a member of Congress, but has told investigators his actions were not politically motivated.

Officials say Rene Boucher plans to plead guilty to the assault as part of a federal plea agreement.

Boucher's attorney says the attack stemmed from a dispute about yard maintenance. He said Boucher became angered by branches and yard clutter that were on the property line and “had enough” after seeing Paul stack more brush on the pile.

Paul was wearing headphones while mowing his yard in Bowling Green, Kentucky, when Boucher ran into his yard in November and tackled him. The assault left Rand with six broken ribs and briefly sidelined him during the Senate debate over tax reform. Assaulting a member of Congress and causing injury is a federal felony.

被控殴打共和党籍联邦参议员保罗的肯塔基州男子被正式指控，罪名是攻击联邦议员。但是这名男子对调查人员说，他的行为没有政治动机。

有关官员说，布切尔打算和联邦法院达成辩诉交易，准备承认犯有攻击罪。

布切尔的律师说，攻击事件的起因是院落园艺维护。他说，与布切尔为邻的保罗参议员在两家房产交界处堆放了树枝和杂物，布切尔看到保罗参议员继续堆放更多的杂物，感到“受够了”。

保罗参议员去年11月在肯塔基州的住宅带着耳机在院子里割草，布切尔冲到他的院内，与他发生了肢体冲突。保罗参议员6根肋骨被打断，一度不得不缺席参议院有关税法改革的辩论。在美国，殴打联邦议员并造成伤害是联邦重罪。