Macron's presidency hurt by photo of aide with a gun?

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M-Quigley
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Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2015 10:06 pm
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Macron's presidency hurt by photo of aide with a gun?

Post by M-Quigley »

https://www.whio.com/news/world/macron- ... 9qaPAgzPJ/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
PARIS — A French investigative website has published a photo of one of President Emmanuel Macron's former security aides posing with a gun and a waitress during a campaign stop amid France's 2017 election — without any known authorization to be armed.

The report by Mediapart raised new questions about 27-year old Alexandre Benalla, his role in Macron's campaign and in the presidency itself.

The same aide was identified in July in an online video as the man beating a protester during France's May Day protests. Benalla's association with Macron has triggered the French leader's biggest political crisis.
Late Monday, Mediapart published a photo of Benalla and two other security guards posing with a waitress. Benalla is seen holding a gun.

France has strict gun control laws and the picture with the waitress seems to contradict several claims by Benalla.

In July, Benalla told the newspaper Le Monde that he wasn't armed during the 2017 French presidential campaign.

Last week, Benalla told a Senate investigative committee that he was never Macron's bodyguard, even during the presidential campaign, but just a person who organized outings. He appeared to be one, however, seen often at Macron's side, ever-watchful and clearing a path for the candidate in crowds.

Asked in the Le Monde interview whether he carried a gun before Macron became president, he replied "No" because he had no permit. Police headquarters accorded him a permit but "only in (campaign) headquarters," he said.
Mediapart said Benalla denied the whole thing in a text message, calling it "another fake news" event. He said he didn't carry a weapon outside campaign headquarters and "I never had a photo taken with any kind of arm during the campaign."

According to the police chief's former top aide, Yanne Drouet, Benalla was only authorized in October 2017 to carry a weapon after failed previous requests.

Drouet, told the Senate investigative commission the gun permit for Benalla was authorized "in the framework of his mission." That contradicted Benalla's own testimony to the commission — he said it was for his own protection, "a guarantee for my own safety."
Benalla refused to explain to the Senate panel any potential threats to himself, saying the question was off-limits because it overlapped the judicial investigation.
rattlehead
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Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2018 5:42 pm
Location: SW Ohio

Re: Macron's presidency hurt by photo of aide with a gun?

Post by rattlehead »

The horror, the horror...
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