Donald Trump called the ethnicity of a federal judge, who is overseeing civil fraud lawsuits against Trump University, a conflict of interest.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel had “an absolute conflict” in presiding over the case because of his “Mexican heritage.”
{mosads}The real estate mogul, now the Republican Party’s presumptive presidential nominee, faces a trio of lawsuits accusing the program of scamming students and leaving them saddled with debt.
Trump told the Journal Curiel’s background is relevant because of his stance against illegal immigration.
“I’m building a wall. It’s an inherent conflict of interest,” Trump said.
Trump has berated Curiel over the case, calling him a “hater” and claiming he has been “very hostile” toward him at rallies.
“The trial is going to take place sometime in November. There should be no trial. This should have been dismissed on summary judgment easily,” Trump said at a rally in San Diego last week.
“Everybody says it, but I have a judge who is a hater of Donald Trump, a hater. He’s a hater. His name is Gonzalo Curiel. And he is not doing the right thing.”