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20 Jul, 2018 10:01

Macron to sack aide at center of May Day assault scandal after ‘new facts’ emerge

Citing the emergence of “new facts,” French President Emmanuel Macron will sack the bodyguard at the center of a scandal that saw him beat a May Day protester. "New facts that could constitute misdemeanour by Alexandre Benalla were brought to the president's attention," an official at the Elysee Palace told Reuters. "As a result... the presidency has decided to start Alexandre Benalla's dismissal procedure," the official added. Benalla, who served as an assistant to Macron’s chief-of-staff, was identified from social media footage by French daily Le Monde on Wednesday. He was seen hitting and choking demonstrators while wearing a police riot helmet at the annual day of protest. Benalla has since been detained for questioning in an assault inquiry, prosecutors confirmed to AP.