What was Aaron's excuse for the golden calf?
Aaron's excuse was that he threw the gold into the fire, and the golden calf came out. He offered this as the explanation for the idol's origin, rather than admitting his part in forming it. This account is described as the craziest story you've ever heard.
Les explains that when Moses had been up in the mountain for 30 or 40 days, the people said they didn't know what had become of him. They went to Aaron and asked for an idol. Aaron went along with it, then came up with the craziest story: he said he suddenly threw the gold into the fire, and out came the golden calf. Les presents this as Aaron's absurd excuse, showing he did not openly acknowledge making the calf himself.