The judge presiding over the Trump University lawsuit is attempting to reseal documents he ordered to be released, claiming he was "mistaken" when he ordered files with personal information to be fully disclosed.
U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel released the documents last Friday, writing that the "defendant became the front-runner for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential race, and has placed the integrity of these court proceedings at issue." Curiel issued the resealing order Tuesday night, far too late to prevent media outlets from obtaining the information.
Details revealed in the unsealed files have made front page news and become part of Hillary Clinton’s anti-Trump rhetoric at an event in Newark, N.J. Clinton said the unsealed files were "more evidence that Donald Trump himself is a fraud."
Trump has maintained that he will win the case despite the "extremely unfair" Curiel and has suggested he might have his lawyers file a motion to recuse the judge for bias, but has yet to do so. Trump unloaded on Curiel on Friday at a rally, his tirade occurring at almost the same time the judge was unsealing the documents.
The lawsuit, filed by former customers of Trump University, alleges fraud in the school’s real estate curriculum. Students paid significant sums of money to attend the courses and were instructed to increase their borrowing limits—a risky financial move—to have the capital to invest in real estate.
Trump has repeatedly stated that he will not settle the case. If elected, the court may be in the awkward position of having a president-elect as a defendant in a civil case.