French Senate asks prosecutors to probe Macron aides over Benalla affair
In a new twist to the Benalla affair, the French Senate asked judicial authorities to probe three senior aides to Emmanuel Macron over the scandal on Thursday, including the president’s "right-hand man" Alexis Kohler.
A Senate commission decided to report Alexandre Benalla – Macron’s former bodyguard, whom video footage has shown beating up a protester at a May Day rally – Patrick Strzoda and Vincent Crase, a reservist in the national gendarmerie, on the grounds that they are suspected of concealing the truth when interrogated by the parliamentary committee.
Contacted by FRANCE 24, Hélène Conway-Mouret, the Socialist vice-president of the Senate, confirmed these details. The offence of giving false testimony is punishable by five years in prison and a €75,000 fine.
Meanwhile Alexis Kohler, the secretary general of the presidential office, and Lionel Lavergne, the presidential security chief, stand accused of showing “inconsistencies” in their testimony to the Senate commission – which envince “major dysfunctions” in Macron’s presidential office, a member of the committee told AFP.
https://www.france24.com/en/20190321-france-benalla-senate-macron-kohler