Lucas Jackson/Reuters
In his first press conference as president-elect on Wednesday, Donald Trump addressed the unverified documents published the prior evening alleging that Russia had blackmail materials about his financial and sexual life. The reports alleged Trump paid prostitutes to perform “golden showers” in a hotel room during one of his visits. The president-elect denied that claim Wednesday by remarking, “I’m also very much a germaphobe, by the way.” Trump, whose inauguration is this month, also said he believes it’s a “disgrace that information would be let out” from his recent U.S. intelligence briefing. As for the contents of the reports about Russia obtaining information on his sexual habits, he said, “It’s all fake news. It’s phony stuff. It didn’t happen. It was gotten by opponents of ours. It was a group of opponents who got together—sick people, and they put that crap together.” He added, “I read what was released and I think it’s a disgrace.” Trump did admit that he believes Russia has hacked various U.S. political organizations. “As far as hacking, I think it was Russia, but we also get hacked by other people,” he said.