After upsetting dozens of Republican lawmakers and conservative pundits, Donald Trump said Tuesday he no longer intends to comment on the federal judge who is currently presiding over a lawsuit involving Trump University.
In a lengthy statement released by his campaign, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said his recent criticism of U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel has been “misconstrued as a categorical attack against people of Mexican heritage.”
“I do not feel that one’s heritage makes them incapable of being impartial, but, based on the rulings that I have received in the Trump University civil case, I feel justified in questioning whether I am receiving a fair trial,” he said.
Trump claimed members of the media have “reported one inaccuracy after another” regarding the civil fraud case against his now-defunct online college and urged voters to visit a website where positive testimonies and surveys from former Trump University students have been posted.
The billionaire criticized plaintiffs formerly and currently involved in separate cases against his university, claiming they gave the online college “excellent” ratings.
“Over a five year period, more than 10,000 paying students filled out surveys giving the courses high marks and expressing their overwhelming satisfaction with Trump University’s programs,” Trump said.
According to Trump, his unique position as the de facto GOP nominee and the positions he’s taken on issues like illegal immigration and free trade led him to “have concerns as to [his] ability to receive a fair trial.”
“Due to what I believe are unfair and mistaken rulings in this case and the judge’s reported associations with certain professional organizations, questions were raised regarding the Obama appointed judge’s impartiality,” he said, adding, “I do not intend to comment on this matter any further.”
“With all of the thousands of people who have given the courses such high marks and accolades, we will win this case!” Trump predicted.
Hours before Trump released the statement, Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., suggested the uproar against Trump’s attacks on Curiel could “spur” a challenge to his nomination at the Republican National Convention next month.
