Macron’s former security aide sentenced to 3 years in protest attack

Benalla was charged with assault and unauthorized interference in police action. He was also found guilty of forged documents and separate charges of illegally carrying a firearm. The court suspended two of the three years of his sentence, but ordered him to serve 12 months at home while wearing an electronic tag, meaning the former president’s bodyguard would not actually be jailed.

The former security aide did not comment on his sentencing, but previously denied allegations related to his actions during the 2018 May Day protests in Paris, arguing that he had acted “by reflex” And only sought the assistance of the police.

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Macron’s disgraced security aide stands in front of a Paris court for attacking protesters in 2018

The incident that put Benala in the dock also became a serious initial challenge to Macron’s presidency. Benalla was filmed dealing with two protesters – a man and a woman – wearing police helmets. He was not authorized to do so, so he was attending the protests only as an observer.

The incident was not made public until the existence of the harmful video was disclosed by France’s Le Monde newspaper. Macron’s government later survived two no-confidence votes in parliament on the matter, but a Senate inquiry into the incident reported that “major flaws” In handling the affairs of the government.

Amid public outcry over the attack, Benalla was fired from his job in the presidential office. The former bodyguard alleged in a book published in 2019 that he was a “A scapegoat for those in power.”

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