Washington (CNN) Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he would not release women who signed nondisclosure agreements when pressed Wednesday by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, saying women who have made allegations of sexist and misogynistic behavior against him maybe "didn't like a joke I told."

Bloomberg brushed off a question at the Democratic presidential debate about claims he has faced in the past and pointed to his record of hiring and promoting women within his company and at City Hall when he was mayor.

Warren then turned to Bloomberg and asked if the billionaire would release the women who have made accusations from the nondisclosure agreements they signed, "so we can hear their side of the story?"

"We have a very few nondisclosure agreements," Bloomberg said.

"How many is that?" Warren pressed.

Read More