--- title: Rand Paul Fears the Political Climate Will Lead to Violence description: Sen. Rand Paul said on Tuesday he worries that the current political climate will lead to deadly violence — including an assassination. canonical: https://time.com/5420117/rand-paul-violence-political-climate/ author: Gina Martinez article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-10-10T00:56:36.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:53:08.866Z article:section: Politics og:title: Sen. Rand Paul Worries 'Someone Is Going to Be Killed' in the Current Political Climate og:description: "I fear that there's going to be an assassination" og:url: https://time.com/5420117/rand-paul-violence-political-climate/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8def7d474d54366f/69892e73e76ad24d96631c62/gettyimages-931919948.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: Sen. Rand Paul Discusses Trump's Recent Nominations Of Mike Pompeo And Gina Haspel og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Sen. Rand Paul Worries 'Someone Is Going to Be Killed' in the Current Political Climate twitter:description: "I fear that there's going to be an assassination" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8def7d474d54366f/69892e73e76ad24d96631c62/gettyimages-931919948.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Sen. Rand Paul Worries 'Someone Is Going to Be Killed' in the Current Political Climate > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. 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It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=c772f971-d2dd-431e-8478-ee401ba3954d&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: 'I Do Not Consent.' Kavanaugh's Confirmation Vote Was Interrupted Multiple Times by Screaming Protesters [Watch (HLS stream): 'I Do Not Consent.' Kavanaugh's Confirmation Vote Was Interrupted Multiple Times by Screaming Protesters](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/PmpnFB20.m3u8) (1:48)  _Published 2018-10-06. 'I Do Not Consent.' Kavanaugh's Confirmation Vote Was Interrupted Multiple Times by Screaming Protesters_ by [Gina Martinez](https://time.com/author/gina-martinez/) ## Gina Martinez Oct 10, 2018 12:56 AM UTC  Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 14, 2018 in Washington, DC. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 14, 2018 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee—Getty Images by [Gina Martinez](https://time.com/author/gina-martinez/) ## Gina Martinez Oct 10, 2018 12:56 AM UTC Republican Sen. Rand Paul said on Tuesday he worries that the current political climate will lead to deadly violence — including an assassination. Paul was referring to tensions over Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court after being accused of sexual misconduct by three women, which have led to thousands of protesters storming the capital. He said the country’s deep divisions might lead to violence and it’s up to politicians to calm things down, not ratchet it up. “I fear that there’s going to be an assassination,” Paul said in an interview with [Kentucky radio station WHAS](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/66-leland-conway-28199879/episode/senator-mitch-mcconnell-senator-rand-29969895/). “I really worry that somebody is going to be killed, and that those who are ratcheting up the conversation, they have to realize they bear some responsibility if this elevates to violence.” Paul referenced New Jersey Senator Cory Booker- who told his supporters to voice their needs directly to politicians. Paul’s wife Kelley recently wrote an [Op-Ed on CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/03/opinions/rand-paul-suffer-intimidation-and-threats-kelley-paul/index.html) revealing she and her husband face constant threats. “When people like Cory Booker say get up in their face … What he doesn’t realize is that for every 1,000 persons who want to get up in your face, one of them is going to be unstable enough to commit violence,” Paul said. Paul cited his 2017 [assault by a neighbor](http://time.com/5111086/rand-paul-attack-motive/) that left him with broken ribs and [the June 2017 congressional baseball practice](http://time.com/4817777/alexandria-shooting-steve-scalise/) where 5 people were shot, including Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Majority Whip. “When I was at the ball field and Steve Scalise was nearly killed, the guy shooting up the ballfield, and shooting I think five or six people, he was yelling, ‘This is for health care,'” Paul said. “When I was attacked in my yard and had six of my ribs broken, and pneumonia, lung contusion, all that — these are people that are unstable, we don’t want to encourage them.” ## Transcript [ NOISE ] Restore order in the gallery. Sargeant at Arms will restore order in the gallery. I do not consent. I do not consent. Where's my representation. I do not consent. Where- [ NOISE ] Is there a sufficient problem? Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second. There is a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The clerk will call the role. Mr. Alexander. I am a woman and I am a patriot. I love this country. The Sergeant at Arms will restore order in the gallery. [ CROSSTALK ] [ INAUDIBLE ] [ NOISE ] The sergeant at arms will restore order in the galery. [ NOISE ] [ CROSSTALK ] [ NOISE ] Sargeant at Arms will restore order in the gallery. [ NOISE ] Sargeant at Arms has restored order in the galleries. [ INAUDIBLE ] [ NOISE ] The sergeant at arms will restore order in the gallery. [ INAUDIBLE ] The clerk may continue. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5420117/rand-paul-violence-political-climate/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5420117/rand-paul-violence-political-climate/"},"headline":"Sen. 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