IIRC, they denied that the patdowns were inappropriate in any way, not that they never happened.

Having seen video of some of the earlier offenders in the "random-attractive-female-groping" searches, I find even THAT comment to be, shall we say, overly presumptive of stupidity on the part of the listener. Cupped hands over the breasts and REALLY close full-body contact, etc. If I "searched" my fiancee in public like that, the charge would be "lewd and lascivious public conduct", a misdemeanor I believe. If such a "search" were performed by a random unwelcomed stranger, the charge would be "sexual assault".

Funny how, after those complaints became public, the "back-of-the-hand" patdowns became exclusive SOP...