Justice Ginsburg regrets "ill-advised" criticism of Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg apologized today for "ill-advised" public criticism of Donald Trump, promising to be more discreet in the future.

The leader of the court's liberal wing sought to quiet complaints she crossed a line in her remarks about Trump, saying in a statement that judges should not comment on candidates for public office.

"On reflection, my recent remarks in response to press inquiries were ill-advised and I regret making them," the 83-year-old justice said.

Justice Ginsburg told The Associated Press last week she did not want to think about the prospect of the Republican winning the presidency over Democrat Hillary Clinton. She escalated her criticism in subsequent media interviews, including calling Trump a "faker" who "really has an ego," in a CNN interview.

Trump jumped into the fray Wednesday. He tweeted that Justice Ginsburg was an embarrassment for making "very dumb political statements about me. Her mind is shot - resign!" In subsequent tweets, Trump called Justice Ginsburg "incompetent" and wondered whether she would apologize.

Other Republicans have chimed in, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who called Justice Ginsburg's remarks "totally inappropriate."

"She oughta stay out of it," said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. "It hurts the court when she does that."