Donald Trump used a huge campaign rally in San Diego on Friday as a forum to trash the federal judge overseeing his upcoming trial in a civil fraud lawsuit alleging that his defunct real-estate school was a sham.
The Republican Party’s presidential nominee-in-waiting said Gonzalo P. Curiel, a San Diego judge, was “very hostile” toward him and should recuse himself from the class-action suit against Trump University.
Thousands of Trump supporters, spread across the vast floor of the San Diego Convention Center, booed when the candidate told them Curiel was appointed to the bench by President Obama. Trump brought up the judge’s ethnicity, but did not say why.
“The judge, who happens to be, we believe, Mexican, which is great, I think that’s fine,” said Trump, whose plan to build a wall on the nation’s southern border has offended many Mexican Americans. “You know what? I think the Mexicans are going to end up loving Donald Trump when I give all these jobs, OK?”
Curiel recently postponed Trump’s trial until late November, saying he was concerned about the potential for a “media frenzy” if it took place during the presidential campaign.
Former students say they spent as much as $35,000 apiece to take Trump University real-estate classes that proved worthless. Trump denies the allegation.
“I’m getting railroaded by the legal system,” Trump said. “Frankly, they should be ashamed.”
Trump appeared unfazed by the risk that his attack might anger the judge.
“I’ve been treated very unfairly,” he said.
