Fired bodyguard contradicts French president’s office about contacting Macron
- Presidency has tried to distance itself from Alexandre Benalla after he was sacked for violent conduct that fuelled a political scandal
- ‘It will be hard for them to deny, since all these exchanges are on my mobile telephone,’ Benalla said
Emmanuel Macron’s former security adviser said on Monday he regularly spoke to the French president, contradicting the presidency that has tried to distance itself from him since he was sacked for violent conduct that fuelled a political scandal.
Alexandre Benalla, originally Macron’s bodyguard before taking the adviser’s role, told the investigative journalism website Mediapart that he has had conversations with the president and other top officials on the messaging app Telegram since he was evicted from the Elysee Palace in July.
“It will be hard for them to deny, since all these exchanges are on my mobile telephone,” Benalla said.
Officials had said there were no contacts between the former bodyguard and the presidency since his sacking. They did not immediately respond on Monday to requests for comment on Benalla’s latest comments.
The original Benalla scandal became a major headache for Macron just over a year into his tenure, after the president, whose popularity ratings have since slipped, was criticised for acting too slowly in dealing with a member of his inner circle.