BODYGUARD SCANDAL
French senate warned against abuse of power after violent bodyguard scandal
Former bodyguard Alexandre Benalla must now face a senate inquiry on September 19 for beating a protester
Paris — Close allies of the French president rounded on the opposition-led senate, warning it against abusing its power and seeking to undermine the presidency after it compelled Emmanuel Macron’s former bodyguard to answer questions over his violent conduct. Alexandre Benalla is under criminal investigation after he was filmed beating a protester while wearing a riot helmet and police tags, a scandal that has plunged Macron’s presidency into its gravest crisis since he won power in May 2017. On Wednesday Benalla agreed to questioning by senators after being told he risked prison if he refused to comply with the parliamentary inquiry. Macron’s lieutenants have cautioned the senate against over-reaching its powers and encroaching on a judicial investigation. Opponents of the president fired back, denouncing what they called an unprecedented attack on parliament. “Any commission of inquiry that was to have political ambitions ... and was to think it could use its role as a check on go...
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