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.