The politician gave a non-denial denial when asked about the scandal.
non-denial denial
idiomA statement which appears to deny that something is true, but which, when examined carefully, can be seen to have used diversion, bluster, or ambiguity to avoid making a clear, direct denial.
Instead of answering the question directly, the CEO offered a non-denial denial that left everyone wondering if the rumors were actually true.
The spokesperson skillfully employed a non-denial denial, using vague language to deflect accountability while carefully avoiding any explicit confirmation of the alleged misconduct.