Rand Paul’s Son William Apologizes After Verbal Altercation With Rep. Mike Lawler at DC Bar

William Paul, son of Sen. Rand Paul, went on a drunken tirade against Rep. Mike Lawler at a bar in Washington on Tuesday evening. Paul gave Lawler the middle finger and then tripped while clearly inebriated, according to Lawler.

The confrontation occurred as Lawler was meeting with NOTUS reporter Reese Gorman. Paul walked up to Lawler and said that if Rep. " Lawler explained that he was not Jewish. Paul then said Jews are anti-American.

Lawler told Paul that he was being antisemitic. Paul responded that Lawler needed to watch more Tucker Carlson and added that Massie and his father are the only congressmen who have an interest in America. When Lawler tried to end the conversation, Paul put his finger in the congressman’s face and said "Don’t put words in my mouth, Mike Lawler.

Paul went on a broader drunken tirade about "gays and Jews," blaming the marginalized groups for various events and mistaking Lawler for being Jewish. Lawler said the situation speaks to a bigger problem of how the Jewish population is treated. "This is the level of hatred and vitriol, frankly, that some of my Jewish colleagues experience, but many of my constituents [also] experience," he said.

Paul made an X post on Wednesday apologizing for the incident. "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 said.

The episode unfolded against the backdrop of the Republican primary fight involving Massie. Rand Paul endorsed Massie in the midterm elections. President Donald Trump has put his support behind a GOP challenger to Massie.

Paul Singer, a GOP megadonor who is Jewish, is helping fund a super PAC that is funding anti-Massie ads. Washington Examiner reported that Paul doubled down during the bar encounter by bashing Singer. Paul was previously charged with assaulting a flight attendant, but the charges were dropped.

In 2015, he was involved in a car crash and later pleaded guilty to driving under the influence.