BUFFALO, N.Y. - Western New York developer Carl Paladino's campaign for governor is only a week old, but he is already facing controversy on the campaign trail. A series of inappropriate e-mails, alleged to have been sent by Paladino, surfaced Monday.

Exactly one week after announcing his candidacy for governor at the Ellicott Square Building, Carl Paladino returned to the same spot for another announcement Monday. This one was a little more controversial.

"I confess to being human and imperfect. I'm not a racist and I say that even in some of the e-mails they have hacked from my computer," said Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino.

A series of inappropriate e-mails, alleged to have been forwarded by Paladino, surfaced on www.wnymedia.net Monday. The e-mails contained racist, sexist, and pornographic images. One e-mail even contained bestiality.

"I didn't originate any of these e-mails. They were all re-sends. When I received an email that was political or off-color or politically incorrect or whatever, I sent it to a very specific bunch of friends who somewhat enjoy that humor," said Paladino.

Marc Odien from Western New York Media, which published the e-mails, said they are damaging to Paladino's campaign.

"He just got done speaking about values and here you have the candidate running for governor who's sending out e-mails that include bestiality and pornography and it's just a contradiction, kind of like pretty much everything that's come out of Mr. Paladino's mouth," said Odien.

Paladino did offer a brief apology for the graphic e-mails.

"To any of the ladies I've offended, I apologize. I say to the men out there who have never opened a graphic image on the Internet - don't vote for me. To those who have, I welcome your vote," said Paladino.

A writer for Western New York Media said there are an additional 50 to 60 graphic e-mails that haven't been released yet.