Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld appeared before Congress Wednesday in a hearing into the alleged cover-up of the battlefield death of the Army Ranger and former professional football player Pat Tillman. The military initially said Tillman was killed by Taliban fighters but later conceded he died by friendly fire. Rumsfeld denied a cover-up under questioning from Democratic Congressmember Dennis Kucinich. Donald Rumsfeld: “I have not been involved in any cover-up whatsoever, and I don’t believe there is an individual at this table who I know well and observed at close quarters in very difficult situations who had any role in a cover-up on this matter.” Congressmember Dennis Kucinich: “Thank you for acquitting yourself — I was speaking about the Department of Defense.” It was Rumsfeld’s first appearance before Congress since he stepped down at the Pentagon last year. The hearing comes one day after the former head of the Army Special Operations Command — Retired Lieutenant General Philip Kensinger — was censured for lying about Tillman’s death. Kensinger refused to testify at Wednesday’s hearing. Six other officers have received reprimands, but critics say blame could reach all the way to Rumsfeld. Just last week, newly revealed documents showed Army medical examiners tried without success to get authorities to investigate whether Tillman was deliberately shot.