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Wilder Describes Accuser as Unsound in Sexual Harrassment Claim

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The nation's first elected African American governor says he's the victim of an "unsound" and "biased" investigation of alleged sexual harassment.

Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder posted a detailed rebuttal Tuesday on his website to an independent investigation commissioned by Virginia Commonwealth University. The investigation concluded Wilder, who teaches at the school, kissed a student six decades his junior without her consent.

The student, Sydney Black, has previously filed a complaint to police and school officials, saying Wilder took her to dinner on her 20th birthday, gave her alcohol and kissed her.

Wilder has denied any "non-consensual sexual contact."

The former governor says the investigator ignored several contradictory statements made by Black that disprove her claims.

He also questioned whether there was an "inherent" racial bias at the school.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.