After Black Twitter came for alleged Howard University scammer Tyrone Hankerson Jr., the law student and financial aid office employee fired back by denying all allegations against him in a Facebook Live exclusive with journalist Roland S. Martin. 

Hankerson believes he is being used as both a scapegoat and a means of taking down current university president Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick.

"I am trying to remain optimistic, but it has been a challenge," Hankerson told Martin. "I'm being used as a means to get Dr. Frederick out of his current position."

Following a damning Medium post from an anonymous author, Howard University has been rocked by an embezzlement scandal. The post alleges that financial aid office employees stole upwards of a million dollars from Howard scholarship and grant funds.

Six employees were fired in September of 2017 in relation to the embezzlement allegations, but an independent audit called for by Frederick shows that the scandal may have started as early as 2007. The Medium post alleges that Hankerson was the main culprit, taking an estimated $430,000 over the course of his college career.

According to Hankerson, however, any money he received was done so above board, and properly.

When asked if he received $429,000, Hankerson said he had been given funds near that amount over the course of his seven years at Howard. He clarified that with tuition and fees, his undergraduate and law school education total nearly $400,000.

He said that the school gave him money for being a low-income student, for working in the financial aid department and funding his studies abroad.

"Including employment, for undergrad, I received over $200,000," Hankerson said.

Hankerson's lawyer, James Walker chimed in. Walker said that although on paper it seems that Hankerson received a lot of money from Howard, but in reality he only got the money needed to cover the large costs of higher education.

"I want to make it clear to folks that there's scholarships you get, there's the grants you get, there's going abroad, there's also money you get when you work at an office at the school," Walker said.

Martin also brought up the fact that people have grown suspicious of Hankerson because of his extravagant clothing, designer bags and other luxury items showcased on social media.

But Walker sees no issue with these posts. "Does he do fashion stuff? Sure, but since when is that a crime? … Did he embezzle? The answer is no he did not."

Walker and Hankerson further explained that Hankerson has many friends in the fashion industry, and that while he does like nice things, he was able to get many of the items he can be seen wearing on social media for free or at reduced cost through these friends.

The backlash has become a headache for Hankerson. He said that he has been constantly harassed since that article came out. "It has been a very, very stressful last couple of days."

"I did not embezzle any money from the university," he said unequivocally. "For all the members of the Howard University family … I'm sorry for any hurt that this situation may have caused you."