{"id":92544,"date":"2026-05-14T06:36:44","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T11:36:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/?p=92544"},"modified":"2026-07-15T09:10:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T14:10:18","slug":"rand-pauls-son-apologizes-after-reportedly-making-antisemitic-attack-on-rep-mike-lawler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/rand-pauls-son-apologizes-after-reportedly-making-antisemitic-attack-on-rep-mike-lawler\/","title":{"rendered":"Rand Paul\u2019s son apologizes after reportedly making antisemitic attack on Rep. Mike Lawler"},"content":{"rendered":"

By JACKIE HAJDENBERG<\/p>\n

(JTA) \u2014 After an altercation Tuesday with a congressman during which he made repeated antisemitic comments, Sen. Rand Paul\u2019s son William apologized and said Wednesday he is \u201cseeking help\u201d for his drinking problem.<\/p>\n

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Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, speaks during a press conference outside Columbia University on April 22, 2024 in New York City. (David Dee Delgado\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cLast night, I had too much to drink and said some things that don\u2019t represent who I really am,\u201d William Paul tweeted on Wednesday afternoon. \u201cI\u2019m sorry and today I am seeking help for my drinking problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

The incident between Paul and Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, occurred late Tuesday at the Tune Inn bar and restaurant in Washington, D.C. in front of NOTUS reporter Reese Gorman, who reported first-hand about the incident.<\/p>\n

Paul approached Lawler and that said if Kentucky incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie loses his primary on May 19, it will be because of \u201cyour people,\u201d NOTUS reported.<\/p>\n

Lawler, who is not Jewish, clarified that he is Irish, Italian and Catholic, he recalled during a press availability tweeted by a reporter from CourthouseNews. \u201cAnd he goes, \u2018Oh! Oh, I’m sorry to accuse you of that,\u2019\u201d Lawler added<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he goes, \u2018Oh! Oh, I\u2019m sorry to accuse you of that,\u2019\u201d Lawler recalled during a press availability tweeted by a reporter from CourthouseNews. \u201cWhich is just a remarkable statement in and of itself. But he then went on a roughly 10-minute diatribe about Israel, about Jews, about Paul Singer and accusing Jews of being responsible for so many things, playing right into the typical antisemitic tropes that so many people rely on.\u201d<\/p>\n

A TV spot for Massie that began running this week targeted hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer with a Pride flag-patterned Star of David placed next to Singer\u2019s head. The ad called Singer a \u201cmajor pro-gay, pro-trans activist who works with far-left, hardcore Democrats.\u201d<\/p>\n

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An ad for the reelection of Republican Rep. Thomas Massie features a rainbow Star of David behind Republican activist investor Paul Singer, who is Jewish. (Screenshot via YouTube)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Singer, who is Jewish, is a Republican and a major donor to Republican candidates. His son is gay and he is a longtime supporter of gay rights.<\/p>\n

William Paul\u2019s father Rand is Kentucky\u2019s junior senator. A Republican who has run for president, Rand Paul announced his endorsement of Massie in October.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt one point, he said that he hates Jews and hates gays and doesn\u2019t care if they die,\u201d Lawler recalled about his encounter with William Paul in the interview. \u201cAnd I think that\u2019s f\u2014ing disgusting. So, you know, the conversation shortly thereafter ended, he gave me the middle finger and then tripped on his way out the door.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lawler is the representative for New York\u2019s 17th district, a swing district that includes a significant Orthodox Jewish population in Rockland County.<\/p>\n

The Kentucky Jewish Council, which advocates against antisemitism in the state, issued a statement denouncing the incident.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are deeply disturbed both by the antisemitic conspiracy theories posited by Mr Paul and with his comfort in harassing someone he thought was Jewish in a public place,\u201d the group said. \u201cWe regret that Congressman Lawler had to experience the kind of abuse far too many American Jews suffer on a regular basis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tuesday night\u2019s altercation between Paul and Lawler was not the first time in recent months that a public figure who is not Jewish was the target of an antisemitic attack. In March, following the attempted car ramming on a synagogue and Jewish preschool in Michigan, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, who is not Jewish, said he had been the target of antisemitic memes and insults.<\/p>\n

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