Donald Trump's most recent comments about a federal judge were publicly condemned by Gov. John Hickenlooper and other Colorado Democratic leaders on Wednesday, saying Trump's remarks were "racist."
A small crowd gathered at the State Capitol steps to hear the leaders condemn the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, less than a week after he questioned whether federal judge Gonzalo Curiel’s Mexican heritage could pose a conflict of interest as he oversees lawsuits against Trump University.
Former Denver Mayor and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Federico Peña talked about his own Latino heritage and how, like Curiel, it doesn’t take away from being American.
He called for Trump to make a public apology.
“I am demanding that Donald Trump apologize publicly to judge Curiel and apologize to the Latino community and apologize to the American people for expressing sentiments that we had discarded decades ago,” he said.
Donald Trump issued a statement on his website Tuesday, saying his comments had been misconstrued.
Trump supporters say Curiel’s involvement with the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association has ties to the National Federation of La Raza, which has been known to advocate pro-immigration reform, a key issue that Trump is advocating against.
Denver7 contacted the Colorado GOP for a comment regarding Trump’s statements, but they chose not to comment.
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