Donald Trump claimed the judge presiding over his civil fraud lawsuit is incapable of delivering a fair verdict in his legal battle over Trump University because of his Mexican roots.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee told the Wall Street Journal that U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel had an “absolute conflict” overseeing the case Trump was served because “of Mexican heritage” and his membership to a Latino lawyers’ association.
It’s the raciest attack Trump has hurled at the judge and it could hurt the New York businessman’s standing with Latinos, among whom he already polls poorly.
Trump reasoned Curiel’s background, born in Indiana to Mexican immigrants, could affect his ruling in Trump’s case, especially if Curiel was born into U.S. citizenship by parents who were in the U.S. illegally when he was born — a position called “birthright citizenship” that Trump does not support.
Trump also said his intentions to secure the border and implement a temporary ban on Muslim refugees present a problem for all parties involved.
“I’m building a wall. It’s an inherent conflict of interest,” Trump said.
Trump admitted he was also concerned about the judge’s friendship with one of the Trump University plaintiffs’ lawyers. That attorney, Jason Forge, told the WSJ he has never known the judge on a personal level, just as a colleague when they were federal prosecutors.
Curiel was appointed to the court by President Obama in 2012. An aide from his office said he would not be responding to Trump’s newest comments.
Trump has also attacked Curiel on social media as well as at a San Diego, Calif., event last week.
But for everything Trump has said and the negative implications it could, but shouldn’t have, on his case, he said he has every right to air his concerns.
“It’s called freedom of speech,” Trump explained.
Curiel has issued pre-trial rulings in favor of the plaintiffs, who claim Trump scammed them through his educational real estate program.
