Le Monde journalist Ariane Chemin said she was questioned by the French intelligence service for some 45 minutesPARIS - France's domestic intelligence service on Wednesday questioned a journalist who broke the story of a scandal that shook President Emmanuel Macron, the latest in a growing number of reporters to be quizzed in a trend that has disturbed press freedom activists. "I explained that I only carried out my job of a journalist," she told AFP after the meeting. Le Monde's managing director Louis Dreyfus was also questioned by the DGSI on Wednesday. The Elysee has been accused of covering up the affair by failing to report Benalla to the authorities. But Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet told the French Senate on Wednesday that the summons should "in no way be seen as an attempt at intimidation or a threat".

Source: Bangkok Post May 29, 2019 13:30 UTC