Rand Paul’s Son Arrested In North Carolina Airport For Being Drunk

Rand Paul’s son was arrested at an airport in North Carolina on Saturday and is being accused of being intoxicated.

The 19-year-old William Horton Paul flew in to Charlotte/Douglas International Airport on a U.S. Airways flight from Lexington, Kentucky. Police said he was intoxicated when he arrived at the airport, and may have been served alcohol during his flight.

After Rand Paul’s son was arrested, he was taken by police to Mecklenburg County jail and charged with three misdemeanors, ABC News reported — underage consumption, disorderly conduct, and being intoxicated and disruptive. While there, he told arresting officers that he was the son of Senator Rand Paul.

Paul’s office made a statement about the arrest, asking for privacy regarding the incident.

“Sen. Paul is a national public figure and subject to scrutiny in the public arena, however, as many parents with teenagers would understand, his family should be afforded the privacy and respect they deserve in a situation such as this,” the statement said.

This is not the first time a Paul has gotten in trouble at an airport. As Politico notes, Rand Paul was stopped from boarding a plane in Nashville last year when he refused to undergo a full-body pat down by TSA agents. Paul had triggered an alarm during a routine screening, but did not want to be subjected to a search. He was not detained in the incident.

Rand Paul’s son posted $750 bond after being arrested and was out of the Mecklenburg County Jail by Saturday evening.