Two preliminary probes, including one for "false testimony", into presidency officials in the Benalla case have been opened, Reuters reported on Monday citing a French prosecutor.
The prosecutor did not specify which officials are the targets of the probe. However, the Paris prosecutor's office noted that the Senate provided a "list of inconsistencies and contradictions" noted in the statements made by employees of the head of state including, Vincent Crase, a former staffer in Macron's party, and Patrick Strzoda, Macron's chief of staff.
This comes after last month the French Senate's executive body agreed to refer three senior officials in the president's administration to prosecutors on suspicion of false testimony in the case involving Emmanuel Macron's former security aide Alexandre Benalla.
The former security aide was charged with multiple offences, including violent acts, interfering in the work of public services, wearing an official insignia without authorisation, concealing video materials and breaching professional secrecy. Meanwhile, Benalla said that he considered his actions during the rally as legitimate, claiming that he tried to help police officers confront offenders.
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