anti-Semitic tirade – Rep. Mike Lawler detailed an anti-Semitic confrontation involving Sen. Rand Paul’s son, while William Paul apologized for comments made while drinking.
A New York Republican’s account of an overnight confrontation in Washington has reignited attention on anti-Semitism and the broader tensions that can spill from the political world into everyday public life.
Rep.. Mike Lawler. speaking to reporters on the steps of Capitol Hill Wednesday. described a meeting at a DC bar that he said quickly turned into a sustained anti-Semitic attack led by William Paul. the son of Sen.. Rand Paul.. Lawler said he had gone out on Tuesday night to eat after a long day. meeting a friend and a colleague in a place that. he said. serves food late.
He said the encounter shifted when William Paul interjected into a conversation about politics—specifically referencing Rep.. Thomas Massie—and then launched into accusations that, as Lawler put it, blamed “my people” for electoral outcomes.. When Lawler asked who William Paul meant, Lawler said the answer was Jews.. Lawler told reporters he responded that he is an Irish-Italian Catholic. and that William Paul then appeared to acknowledge the mistake before the exchange broadened.
Lawler said William Paul then delivered what he characterized as a roughly 10-minute diatribe centered on Israel and Jews. including allegations about Paul Singer and language that Lawler said echoed familiar anti-Semitic tropes.. He also said William Paul told him he hates Jews and hates gays and does not care if they die. and that the confrontation ended soon after with William Paul giving him the middle finger and tripping on his way out.
“The conversation shortly thereafter ended. ” Lawler said. adding that the incident was “f*cking disgusting.” While he framed the episode as deeply personal—one he said mirrors the experiences of Jewish colleagues and constituents—he also connected it to what he described as a larger pattern. citing an increase in anti-Semitism in the country.. He said his district contains one of the largest Jewish populations in the nation and emphasized that he would not stop advocating for his constituents.
Lawler tied his response to what he called Judeo-Christian values rooted in the Constitution and the country’s rule of law, describing remarks he made to William Paul about the Bible’s Old Testament. He said William Paul’s statements did not align with those religious principles.
The incident was detailed in the context of public attention after a political reporter, Reese Gorman, was present and later reported on the encounter. The account circulated widely online, including the video clip Lawler discussed with reporters.
William Paul. for his part. addressed the episode in a social media post. saying he had “too much to drink” the night before and that the remarks he made do not represent who he is.. He apologized and said he is seeking help for a drinking problem.. As of Wednesday evening, Sen.. Rand Paul had not publicly commented.
The episode arrives as anti-Semitism remains a major concern in U.S.. political and civic life.. For lawmakers and staff. the incident underscores how quickly inflammatory rhetoric can escalate in public settings and how public apologies and silence from political figures can shape the reaction—and the scrutiny—that follows.
Mike Lawler Rand Paul William Paul anti-Semitism U.S. Congress Capitol Hill Israel rhetoric
he tripped on the way out lmaooo
Wait so Rand Paul himself said all this or just his kid? Because the headline made it sound like Rand Paul was there doing this. Either way its embarrassing but people need to be more careful about how they write these titles honestly.
This is exactly what happens when politicians raise their kids thinking they can just say whatever they want with no consequences. And then the apology is oh I was drinking like that makes it ok. Drinking doesnt make you say stuff you dont actually believe, it just makes you stop pretending you dont believe it. My uncle used to say the same thing and he was a mean drunk but guess what he was also mean sober. People need to stop using alcohol as a cover story for who they actually are deep down. Tired of seeing this over and over again.
Lawler is a republican tho so why is he even mad, his own party has been letting this stuff slide for years and now hes shocked when it shows up at a bar. also wasnt Thomas Massie the one who did something weird at christmas with guns or whatever. feels like all these guys know each other and just fight at bars in DC while regular people are paying 6 dollars for eggs. not saying what the Paul kid said was fine because it wasnt obviously but like the whole thing is just so inside baseball and nobody in congress actually cares until a camera is nearby.