Israeli President Moshe Katsav has denied allegations that he coerced a former female employee into having sex with him, in his first public interviews since he was interrogated by police this week.
"These are absurd allegations," he told the Yedioth Ahronothnewspaper. "I never had sex with (the woman)."
The president, whose role is largely ceremonial, also told Israel radio that he was the victim of a "public lynching without trial or investigation."
Israeli police confiscated computers and documents from Mr Katsav's residence earlier in the week and have questioned him for hours regarding accusations of sexual harassment. Mr Katsav's office has said he would cooperate with police.
Yedioth Ahronothquoted Mr Katsav as saying that he would be willing to take a lie detector test if the questions were given to his lawyer to review in advance.
Mr Katsav told the newspaper that the employee was a "troublesome" worker who was trying to blackmail him and that he was pleased when she quit her job at his office.
If charged, Mr Katsav would be immune from standing trial but could be impeached by parliament if it determined he acted inappropriately. He has been president since 2000.
The scandal involving Mr Katsav, the indictment of a former cabinet minister over a forced kiss and allegations against other leaders have darkened the mood in Israel, where major leaders have come under fire over the month-long war in Lebanon.