Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State football coach charged with 40 counts of child sex abuse, broke his silence Monday night about the scandal that lead to the firing of head coach Joe Paterno and three other university officials.

In a phone interview with Bob Costas on NBC’s ‘Rock Center With Brian Williams,’ Sandusky said, “I have horsed around with kids, I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them, and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact,” but declared himself innocent of the abuse charges.

Questioned about then-assistant Mike McQueary’s allegations that he saw Sandusky raping a boy in 2002, Sandusky said, “I would say that’s false.” When Costas asked why McQueary would lie about such a thing, Sandusky replied, “You’d have to ask him that.”

His only regret? “I shouldn’t have showered with those kids,” Sandusky said.

Costas then cut right to the chase, bluntly asking Sandusky if he’s sexually attracted to underaged boys. The former coach hesitated before responding, clearly trying to choose his words carefully. “Sexually attracted…no,” he said. “I enjoy young people. I love to be around them. I…but no, I’m not sexually attracted to young boys.”

Sandusky concluded the interview by asking people to hold off on passing judgment until after the case is decided in court.

Watch the interview in its entirety below:

[CNN]

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