Ohio Gov. John Kasich became the latest Republican leader to condemn Donald Trump’s bristling attack on the character and impartiality of a Mexican-American judge.
In two tweets Monday morning, Kasich — who dropped out of the presidential race last month after mounting a campaign in contrast to Trump’s divisive rhetoric — called on Trump to apologize to U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is presiding over a case in which students of Trump University allege they paid thousands of dollars for bogus real estate classes.
Trump, who has promised to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and promptly relocate 11 million illegal immigrants to its southern side, came out firing last week after Curiel unsealed documents in the case, including testimonials from Trump University employees who characterized the unaccredited series of seminars as a “scheme.”
Because of Curiel’s Mexican heritage, being the son of immigrants, and his association with La Raza Lawyers of California, a group that supports Chicano and Latino attorneys in the Golden State, Trump claimed the jurist is unfit to render an unbiased judgement or properly handle the case, which might not be settled until after the presidential election.
“Attacking judges based on their race &/or religion is another tactic that divides our country. More importantly, it is flat out wrong,” Kasich tweeted Monday morning after calling for an apology and urging the presumptive Republican presidential nominee to instead “try to unite this country.”
Kasich has withheld his endorsement of Trump as other primary candidates dispatched by the billionaire have softened to a Trump-topped ticket. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who a few weeks ago affirmed that he stands by his campaign charge that Trump is a “con man,” is among the latest to endorse the brash New York businessman. Rubio made it a point in debates to attack Trump based on his questionable business practices.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, an early Trump endorser, and current House Speaker Paul Ryan, who waited to find common ground and voice concerns with Trump before announcing his support, have each admonished the comments Trump made toward the judge, who was born in Indiana.
Other top brass in the Republican Party, including 2012 nominee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, have noted the racist comments in their continued refusal to endorse Trump.
Trump has insinuated that his strong position on sealing the border and deporting illegal immigrants may unhinge Curiel from his duties to rule with impartiality. But as the New York Times reported, standing by his legal convictions once forced Curiel, then a prosecutor, into nearly a year of hiding when 20 years ago a Mexican drug cartel reportedly wanted him dead for doing his job.
Exiting an Ohio Republican Party dinner this past weekend, Sen. Rob Portman downplayed the latest Trump controversy. Portman’s Democratic challenger, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, has launched regular attacks linking Trump to Portman, the latter planning his own party in Cleveland this July while Trump dominates the spotlight inside the Republican National Convention.
“I disagree with his characterization of a judge based on his ancestry,” Portman, distancing himself from the comments of a presumptive nominee he said he will support, told a Cincinnati Enquirer reporter.
Doug Livingston can be reached at 330-996-3792 or dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @ABJDoug.