WASHINGTON (AP) – The admiral fired last year as No. 2 commander of the U.S. nuclear force amid a gambling investigation is denying that he made the counterfeit casino chips he was caught using at an Iowa casino poker table. Investigative records obtained by The Associated Press said the DNA of Rear Adm. Timothy M. Giardina was found on the underside of an adhesive sticker used on a genuine $1 chip to make it look like a $500 chip.

But in an interview Sunday, Giardina categorically denied any role in counterfeiting. He admitted having lied to investigators by telling them he had purchased the three suspect chips in a casino bathroom. He said he actually found them abandoned in the bathroom, did not realize they were fakes and regrets lying about it.