He doesn’t think he did anything illegal, but Marion Barry has apologized for failing to use what he termed “good judgment” when he hired girlfriend Donna Watts-Brighthaupt under a personal services contract with his office, WRC/NBC4 reports.

At a press conference this afternoon at the Union Temple Baptist Church, Barry insisted that there was “no violation of conflict of interest, there was a violation of law of good sense and law of sound judgment.”

Barry’s remarks were prepared in response to the recent report by independent attorney Robert Bennett, which concluded that Barry had violated ethics rules when he hired Watts-Brighthaupt. The report also found that Barry had taken cash payments out of Watts-Brighthaupt’s city paycheck, in what amounts to a kickback.

City Desk has a nice selection of quotes, including the full apology, something the Mayor for Life, as often as he’s been in trouble with the law, isn’t well known for doing.

“I apologize for my actions and lack of sound judgment and for causing great embarrassment to the city and the city council. I am truly, truly sorry. I intend to work as hard as I can to help repair the damage and I am also committed to work even hard for the residents of Ward 8 and the city,” Barry said.

Unsurprisingly, Barry took no questions from reporters after reading his statement. The D.C. Council is expected to consider censuring Barry next week.