VP Harris Hit with Plagiarism Allegations Over 2009 Book as Election Nears
October 15, 2024Vice President Kamala Harris is currently facing serious plagiarism allegations related to her 2009 book, 'Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor’s Plan to Make Us Safer,' which she co-authored with Joan O’C. Hamilton.
A report by Austrian plagiarism expert Dr. Stefan Weber claims that the book contains 27 instances of plagiarism, including direct copying from Wikipedia and other uncited sources.
Christopher Rufo, a conservative activist, highlighted six specific paragraphs from the approximately 200-page book that allegedly contain uncredited language from various sources.
CNN's review corroborated these claims, finding that Harris and Hamilton failed to properly attribute certain passages in their work.
In response, Harris's campaign asserted that she clearly cited sources and statistics throughout the book, defending her integrity as an author.
However, the pattern of using uncredited material raises significant concerns about academic integrity in Harris's work.
Supporters of Harris argue that her rhetorical style embodies compassion and optimism, while critics contend that it reflects a reliance on platitudes and unfitness for leadership.
Harris's campaign has dismissed the plagiarism allegations as politically motivated attacks from right-wing operatives, especially as the 2024 election approaches.
The sources for the allegedly plagiarized content include a Bureau of Justice Assistance report and various academic studies, which were not properly cited.
One notable instance involved Harris replicating long passages from a Wikipedia entry without citation, misrepresenting key information.
Campaign spokesperson James Singer suggested that the plagiarism claims are a desperate tactic by opponents as Harris builds bipartisan support for her presidential campaign.
This controversy arises just before the November 5 election, complicating Harris's campaign as she has previously criticized Trump for spreading 'fake news.'
Summary based on 8 sources
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Sources
New York Post • Oct 15, 2024
Kamala Harris' book publisher directing 'very sensitive' plagiarism questions to higher-upsNewsweek • Oct 14, 2024
Kamala Harris 'Smart on Crime' Plagiarism Claims: Everything We KnowThe Daily Beast • Oct 15, 2024
Conservative Activist Claims Kamala Harris Plagiarized ‘Smart on Crime’ Book Passages