Refusing to respond sends a powerful message that it might be true and that’s what gives the story “legs”. He should deny it.
Yes, it sends that message. And even if he denies it, the same message is perceived by those who want it to be true. I heard that on the radio this morning. i.e. his department DID deny it, but the reporter reported it as a “he said, she said” rather than fake news.
I liked his own response, saying this is to petty to respond to. Someone needs to get that meme out there. There are MUCH more serious stuff to deal with and they simply need to stop even wasting time asking such stupid questions. The only way they stop is if the questions are called out as stupid and get no answer. Repeatedly.