NEW YORK CITY -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today his name "was never mentioned" at a nearly eight-week corruption trial of his former top aide.

Cuomo's former deputy executive secretary Joseph Percoco was convicted of three felonies in connection with a bribery and corruption scheme.

Cuomo was not charged or accused of any wrongdoing or criminal involvement by prosecutors.

Cuomo took questions on the trial from reporters for the first time today, dismissing critics and calling attempts to tie him personally to the case "political garbage."

When one reporter asked about Cuomo's personal involvement, here's how he replied, according to a transcript of the gaggle published by Politico New York:

"Look at the facts, right? We're in the political silly season and people can say whatever they want to say ... This was a two-year trial-slash-investigation. There was absolutely no suggestion ever made that I had anything to do with anything. It was an exhaustive investigation, and exhaustive trial, and there was never suggestion about any involvement by me. So when they raise political garbage, an insightful reporter like you will say, 'But that's not the fact because we covered the trial and the governor's involvement was never mentioned, his name was never mentioned.'"

In the first, four-day week of the trial, Cuomo's name was spoken 54 times, according to court transcripts.

Photographs of Cuomo were introduced into evidence as court exhibits.

Witnesses testified at length about Cuomo and Percoco's relationship.

Cuomo's chief-of-staff recalled a phone call between Cuomo, Percoco and herself, as federal agents searched Percoco's house when the investigation became public in 2016.

Read our continuing coverage of the trial

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992