Donald Trump defends comments on Judge Gonzalo Curiel, has ‘inherent conflict of interest’
GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump doubled down with his continuing remarks against Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is presiding over lawsuits against Trump University. Speaking with Jake Tapper Trump refused to back down.
Trump has repeatedly attacked the judge as “unfair” and “a hater.” He has also threatened a civil case against the judge if he becomes President, adding that because Judge Curiel is “of Mexican heritage” he has “an inherent conflict of interest.”
Trump insists that ethnicity disqualifies the judge from ruling fairly because the Republican favors building a wall at the U.S.-Mexican border.
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Pressed by CNN’s Jake Tapper more than 20 times on whether he was invoking racism in his attacks on the judge, Trump continued to point to his plans to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico and renegotiate trade agreements between the two countries as justification and validation of his critiques.
“He’s proud of his his heritage. I respect him for that,” Trump said, dismissing charges that his allegation was racist. “He’s a Mexican. We’re building a wall between here and Mexico.”
Tapper asked: “If you are saying he cannot do his job because of his race, is that not the definition of racism?”
“No, I don’t think so at all,” Trump said.
Trump said Curiel, who was born in Indiana, had an “inherent conflict of interest” in the Trump University lawsuit.
“If he was giving me a fair ruling, I wouldn’t say that,” Trump told Tapper, pointing again to Curiel’s background. “I think that’s why he’s doing it.”
“I’m building a wall. I’m trying to keep business out of Mexico. Mexico’s fine,” Trump said. “He’s of Mexican heritage, and he’s very proud of it, as I am of where I come from.”
Trump again called for Curiel to recuse himself from the case.
Last week, Curiel ordered parts of internal documents, including “playbooks” regarding running the enterprise, to be released as part of a lawsuit against Trump University.
