ROME — Ignazio Marino, the recently resigned Mayor of Rome, told a press conference on his expenses scandal on Tuesday that he had "never used public money for private purposes, if anything the contrary". He said when he met social housing officials in New York last summer "I paid for the hotel myself”. This was following his meeting with magistrates for four hours to provide clarification of his expenses and avoid embezzlement charges on Monday.

   "I resigned because I have the utmost respect for the judicial authority and to explain that the facts and complaints presented are shameful and in bad faith.”

  Marino stepped down after two opposition parties filed suits claiming he ran up thousands of euros of private expenses on his municipal credit card. Marino defended himself on Monday, saying that the disputed bills were signed by assistants and not by him.

  There are persistent reports that he still may be formally investigated, despite his efforts to clear his name. 

 Supporters of Marino will take to the streets of the Piazza del Campidoglio on Oct. 25 to 12:00 p.m. to ask him to withdraw his resignation.