Trump says comments about judge ‘misconstrued’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Donald Trump says that his attacks on the judge handling the Trump University case have been “misconstrued.”

Trump said in a lengthy statement Tuesday afternoon that “it is unfortunate” his comments “have been misconstrued as a categorical attack against people of Mexican heritage.”

Trump has complained repeatedly that federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel is biased against him and cited his Mexican heritage. Curiel was born in the U.S.

His comments have sparked a backlash among members of the Republican Party, House Speaker Paul Ryan saying Tuesday that they are “the textbook definition of racist comments.”

Trump said in his statement, “I do not feel that one’s heritage makes them incapable of being impartial,” but said that he feels justified to question whether he is receiving a fair trial based on the ruling.

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