Sen. Rand Paul’s son William Paul said he had too much to drink and apologized for launching an antisemitic tirade against Rep. Mike Lawler in a Washington bar this week.
The senator’s son apparently believed Mr. Lawler, New York Republican, was Jewish and blamed him for working against Rep. Thomas Massie, who lags in polls ahead of Tuesday’s Kentucky GOP primary.
Mr. Lawler was sitting with a friend and a reporter from NOTUS when, the congressman said, the younger Paul “just like chimes in on our conversation, f—-ing drunk and belligerent and then starts going off about … if Massie loses, it’s because of my people.”
In a social media post, the senator’s son, who uses the X handle @TastyBrew1776, apologized and said he’s seeking help.
“Last night, I had too much to drink and said some things that don’t represent who I really am. I’m sorry and today I am seeking help for my drinking problem,” he posted on X.
Mr. Lawler, a staunch Israel advocate, gave a detailed description of the incident to the New York Post. It was first reported by NOTUS.
Mr. Lawler said he explained to the younger Paul that he wasn’t Jewish, but the senator’s son continued on his baffling tirade about “us trying to steal Iran’s land for the Jews and steal the West Bank.”
William Paul told Mr. Lawler and his bar companions, “This war, it’s all about the gays and the Jews, and I hate them both, and I don’t care if they die.”
William Paul stumbled out of the restaurant after knocking over a barstool.
His father, a Kentucky Republican and libertarian, like Mr. Massie, hasn’t commented on the incident.
William Paul, 33, has worked as a digital communications manager for GOP Reps. Mike Collins of Georgia and Alex Mooney of West Virginia.
The senator’s son pleaded guilty in 2015 to driving under the influence and in 2013 was charged with assaulting a flight attendant, underage drinking, disorderly conduct and being intoxicated and disruptive.
Mr. Lawler has been a leading lawmaker on pro-Israel legislation, among them measures expanding laws against the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and a bill affirming Israel’s right to exist and condemning Hamas terrorists.
Mr. Lawler told the MeidasTouch news network he hasn’t heard from Sen. Paul since William Paul’s verbal attack and has no advice for him.
“If it was my child, I’d be mortified,” he said.
