Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s son apologized to reporters after the incident and said he was “seeking help” for a “drinking problem.”
Markwayne Mullin says at public hearing that he ‘understands’ Rand Paul attack
At the beginning of his confirmation hearing, Markwayne Mullin was questioned by Rand Paul about his comments about the attack in Paul’s backyard.
WASHINGTON – The son of a prominent Republican senator apologized on May 13 after he claimed the Republican senator verbally accused him of anti-Semitic slurs in front of reporters at the Capitol bar.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said William Paul, the son of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, approached him at the Tune Inn Restaurant and Bar on the night of May 12. The Republican said the senator’s son warned him that if another Republican, Kentucky Republican, Thomas Massie, were to lose in the upcoming primary, it would be because of Mr. Lawler’s “people.”
When Lawler asked him for an explanation, William Paul yelled, “Jews!”
The next day, Lawler, who is not Jewish, told reporters on the steps of the Capitol: “He then went on a rant about Israel and Jews for about 10 minutes. And at one point he said he hated Jews and gays and didn’t care if they died.”
It all happened before the eyes of a reporter from the news agency NOTUS, who first reported on the incident.
William Paul, the grandson of former Republican Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, has worked for Representatives Mike Collins of Georgia and Alex Mooney of West Virginia. He previously worked for the conservative advocacy groups FreedomWorks and Americans for Tax Reform.
William Paul apologized for his actions in a subsequent social media post, but did not specifically address what he accused the congressman of saying.
“Last night I drank too much and said something that didn’t represent who I really am. I’m sorry. Today I’m seeking help for my drinking problem,” he wrote to X.
A spokesperson for Sen. Rand Paul did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.
This isn’t the first time the libertarian-leaning senator’s son has caused problems for his father. In 2015, USA TODAY reported that he was charged with drunk driving after a crash in Lexington. He later pleaded guilty in the case.
Zachary Schermele is a Congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can email us at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and on Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.
