Sentence:  (1) Absolution: The speaker says the act was not what was understood, and that it did not occur as charged anyway. [...] His repeated denials should be  viewed as an <WSD>absolutive</WSD> strategy in which the facts themselves are disputed, [...] 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Of, exhibiting, or pertaining to absolution; absolutory, absolving.