A federal judge who handles Indian Country cases in Montana has admitted that he forwarded a "racist" e-mail about President Barack Obama.

Chief Judge Richard Cebull, however, denies he is racist. He received the message at his official courthouse address e-mail and forwarded it to some "old buddies" while he was in chambers.

"It was not intended by me in any way to become public," Cebull, who was nominated by former President George W. Bush, told The Great Falls Tribune. "I apologize to anybody who is offended by it, and I can obviously understand why people would be offended."

Cebull was a former judge for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. He became chief judge of the U.S. District Court in 2008.

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Chief U.S. District Judge sends racially charged email about president (The Great Falls Tribune 2/29)