AUGUSTA (AP) Gov. Paul LePage is rejecting some lawmakers’ assertions that he has addiction or mental health issues and is vowing that he won’t resign.

Addressing a handful of reporters Wednesday, the Republican said he’s not an alcoholic or drug addict and doesn’t “have mental issues.”

LePage says he plans to seek “spiritual guidance” in hopes of quieting a controversy he created when he left an obscene message on a Democratic lawmaker’s voicemail and then said he wished he could challenge him to a duel and point a gun at him.

But he also blamed the media for fueling the controversy and said he won’t be speaking to reporters anymore.

LePage apologized to the lawmaker earlier Wednesday. He said he was angry because state Rep. Drew Gattine called him a racist, something Gattine has denied.