HOUSTON -- Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal said he would finish out his term despite calls to resign, KPRC Local 2 reported Wednesday.

Rosenthal only spoke to KPRC Local 2 about the latest round of controversial e-mails he is accused of sending and receiving.

"Are you going to resign?" reporter Phil Archer asked.

"No," Rosenthal said.

"Should you resign?" Archer asked.

"No," Rosenthal said.

"Why not?" Archer asked.

"Well, 'cause I haven't done anything wrong," Rosenthal said.

Members of the Harris County Republican Party asked Rosenthal to step down after the release of e-mails from Rosenthal's computer that contained racially charged jokes and images, as well as pornographic videos.

"I've gotten some unsolicited e-mails, and I have said some things and sent e-mails to friends that I wish I hadn't," Rosenthal said.

One of those e-mails Rosenthal forwarded to a friend contained a joke about President Clinton that characterizes African-Americans as unemployed drug users.

"Do you see how that would raise questions with some people about your impartiality -- about whether or not justice in Harris County is color-blind?" Archer asked.

"People raise that issue all the time anyway. That specifically should not, I wouldn't think, add anything," Rosenthal said.

Rosenthal said others sent the pornography to him and that he deleted it as soon as he received it.

"I deleted it, but I didn't delete the deletions," Rosenthal said. "In hindsight, I probably wouldn't have done it if I had any idea that any of that would ever be public."

He insisted the e-mails are a carefully orchestrated political smear by Democrats and that he will not step down.

"No matter what those e-mails show or people say about me, I'm the same guy that has been in this office almost 31 years," Rosenthal said.

The e-mails were subpoenaed in a police brutality case against the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Lloyd Kelley, one of the attorneys in that case, said some of the e-mails showed criminal conduct by Rosenthal.

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and the county attorney said they are sending a letter requesting that the Texas attorney general open an investigation.

If criminal misconduct is uncovered, the district attorney could be removed from office.

"If I had the ability to fire him today, yes, I would," Emmett said. "For the sake of the district attorney and Harris County, the simplest thing is for Rosenthal to step down. I hate for one person's actions and lack of judgment to take down an entire office, which is why we are doing what we are doing."

The controversy has had a ripple effect on the morale of the district attorney's office and on the campaign of assistant district attorney Kelly Siegler, who is running for the top job.

Some of the e-mails were sent between Rosenthal and Siegler's husband.

"It's offensive. It's disturbing. It's rude -- probably hurt a bunch of people's feelings," Siegler said.

As for Rosenthal's future, Siegler would only say that he should do what's in the best interest of the office and the people of Harris County.

Houston Mayor Bill White spoke briefly about the scandal on Wednesday. He said he has faith that the district attorney's office is doing its job.

"I think there are a lot of professionals at the DA's office. They have a good reputation. They're a very productive DA's office, just like HPD. They're human beings and they may not be perfect, but I hope the prosecutors continue to do their jobs, so that those who are arrested for crimes where there is evidence of that crime are brought to justice," White said.

The state attorney general's investigation could take weeks or months.

Rosenthal was elected in 2001 after working for 30 years as a prosecutor.

Excerpts From Rosenthal's E-Mails

Here are some excerpts from e-mail correspondence between Rosenthal and his secretary Kerry Stevens, with whom he acknowledged having an affair in the 1980s. He claims it has since ended.

Other e-mails included racist jokes, political strategizing and a video of men forcibly tearing women's blouses in public.

July 22, 2007
Rosenthal: I miss you dreadfully. This has not been fun.
July 24, 2007
Stevens: Good Morning
Rosenthal: Good morning to you. I hope you parked downstairs again and will take advantage of it by going to lunch or shopping at noon. Some way or another, I pulled a muscle in my shoulder. It woke me up several times last night. It will be really good to get back into my routine again. I will never take off or land in an airplane without thinking of you. Hopefully, sometime this week you will let me hold you.
Stevens: I miss you and I shouldn't.
Aug. 9, 2007
Stevens: Would it be okay with you if I take a day of vacation tomorrow?
Rosenthal: Sure. Do you really need to ask?
Stevens: Thanks and yes, I have to ask
Rosenthal: You do not have to ask. Just tell me what you plan to do. You have to know by now that I'm not going to tell you "no" about anything you want.
Stevens: It is still proper for me to ask. There may be a day that something could be going on that you would want me here.
Rosenthal: I always want to see you. You own my heart whether you want or not.
Aug. 10, 2007
Stevens: get out of there, go home. have a good weekend.
Rosenthal: You are still home.
Stevens: even though you know that can't be.
Rosenthal: Do not tell me what can and cannot be
Stevens: but .....
Rosenthal: But ... nothing
Stevens: get out of there and go spend time with your family.
Rosenthal: The very next time I see you, I want to kiss you behind your right ear.