Trump Addresses Comments On Judge In Trump University Case

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(CBSDFW.COM/AP) -Donald Trump has responded to criticism of his latest comments regarding the judge over the civil lawsuit on Trump University being biased against him.

Trump had said U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel cannot judge him fairly because Curiel is of Mexican heritage and Trump plans to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.

On Tuesday, Trump issued what he says will be his final comments on the matter.  In the statement he said:

"It is unfortunate that my comments have been misconstrued as a categorical attack against people of Mexican heritage. I am friends with and employ thousands of people of Mexican and Hispanic descent. The American justice system relies on fair and impartial judges. All judges should be held to that standard. 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 went on to say:

"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. It is a fair question. I hope it is not the case.

While this lawsuit should have been dismissed, it is now scheduled for trial in November. 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!"

Curiel, who is presiding over a case alleging that Trump University fleeced students, was born in Indiana to parents who came from Mexico in the 1940s.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Donald Trump's comments on the American-born judge of Mexican heritage are "the textbook definition of racist comments."

Trump has been questioned repeatedly about his stance that the judge's ethnicity makes him unqualified to preside over his case, but has refused to retract his comments, and may not be any more likely to do so in response to Ryan's complaints.

But Ryan says he will still support Trump because his agenda is more likely to get enacted under Trump than Democrat Hillary Clinton.

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