Macron in crisis as sacked aide faces judge
Claims of cover-up after footage emerges of senior security official allegedly assaulting protesters
A FORMER senior security aide of Emmanuel Macron was charged last night with assaulting protesters in an incident that has thrown the presidency into turmoil.
Parliament was forced to suspend debate on a constitutional reform bill as MPS accused the government of a cover-up over Alexandre Benalla, a high-ranking security official said to be part of Mr Macron’s inner circle before his sacking.
Mr Benalla had to call off his wedding on Saturday as detectives questioned him over the alleged assault during a May Day protest in Paris.
Vincent Crase, a bodyguard who is employed by Mr Macron’s party, was also summoned to face similar accusations, along with three police officers who are alleged to have helped Mr Benalla to illegally recover CCTV footage of the incident.
Prosecutors asked the judge for Mr Benalla and Mr Crase to be barred from working in any public function or pos- sessing weapons.
Mr Benalla was suspended for two weeks after the alleged assault.
But he was only sacked on Friday, two days after the newspaper Le Monde published mobile phone footage showing him wearing a police helmet and armband as he hit a man and attempted to push a woman to the ground. Police at the scene were seen watching without intervening.
Mr Benalla was charged with assault, carrying an illegal weapon, interfering with public officials carrying out their duties, wearing police insignia without permission and illegally obtaining official CCTV surveillance video. If found guilty, he risks seven years in prison and a £40,000 fine. Mr Crase was charged with assault, interfering with police and carrying an illegal weapon.
Three police officers were charged with illegally recovering official CCTV footage of the incident which they allegedly gave to Mr Benalla. Suspicions of an attempted cover-up were fuelled by what appeared to be inconsistent answers given by staff in Mr Macron’s office.
They said that Mr Benalla had been moved to administrative duties instead of security. But photographs emerged at the weekend showing him at the president’s side, apparently guarding him, on Bastille Day last week.
Gérard Collomb, the interior minister, is facing calls to resign and he will appear before a parliamentary committee of inquiry today.
Meanwhile, Mr Macron himself is under mounting pressure to comment on the case. The accusation of a coverup to protect Mr Benalla has badly damaged the image of Mr Macron, who promised to bring “a new morality” to public life.
His approval rating sank to a record low last week.
Mr Benalla, 26, who earned more than £100,000 a year, was this month given a grace-and-favour apartment in a riverside mansion where former president François Mitterrand once housed his mistress and their daughter.
He is reported to have told investigators that the police officer liaising with him provided him with an armband, a helmet and a police radio.