Son of Sen. Rand Paul apologizes for antisemitic comments made to congressman
William Paul , son of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul , has apologized for antisemitic remarks made to a New York congressman at a bar in Washington, D.C. earlier this week.
William Paul “drunkenly hurled antisemitic insults at Rep. Mike Lawler , R-New York, at a Capitol Hill bar and restaurant,” according to NOTUS reporter Reese Gorman, who witnessed the interaction.
William Paul introduced himself as Rand Paul’s son and confronted Lawler about Rep. Thomas Massie’s Republican primary election in Kentucky on May 19. If Massie loses against President Donald Trump’s endorsed candidate Ed Gallrein , William Paul told Lawler it would be because of “your people,” according to the report.
“My people?” Lawler asked.
“Yeah, you Jews,” William Paul said.
Lawler clarified he wasn’t Jewish, and William Paul apologized for “calling (him) a Jew,” according to the NOTUS report. William Paul continued and said Jewish people were “anti-American,” and Lawler and his “Jewish supporters” served Israel more than America.
Lawler told William Paul he was being antisemitic and defended his support of Israel.
Lawler addressed the incident to a group of reporters on Capitol Hill Wednesday afternoon, according to a social media post on X, where he alleged William Paul said that “he hates Jews. He hates gays, and he doesn’t care if they die,” which Lawler called “disgusting.”
“Shortly there after it ended, he gave me the middle finger, and then tripped on his way out the door,” Lawler said.
William Paul said in a social media post on X on Wednesday that “he 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,” William Paul said.
A request for comment from Rand Paul’s office was not returned by the time of publication.
William Paul previously worked for the conservative organization FreedomWorks and multiple Congressmen, according to Legistorm.
He was charged in 2013 with assaulting a flight attendant, underage drinking, disorderly conduct and being intoxicated and disruptive, according to a report from CBS. Those chargers were later dropped.
In 2015, he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, according to a report from WUKY.
Massie’s race, the main topic of William Paul and Lawler’s conversation, has garnered national attention after Trump has repeatedly targeted Massie.
While Rand Paul is supporting Massie in his primary election, Trump has previously called Massie “Rand Paul Jr.” because he “votes against everything.”
