Investigative journalist accuses Kamala Harris of plagiarizing at the very least 12 sections of her first guide

Investigative journalist accuses Kamala Harris of plagiarizing at the very least 12 sections of her first guide


‘Plagiarism Hunter’’s current sniffs has accused Vice President Kamala Harris of plagiarizing vital parts of her felony justice guide, Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor’s Plan to Make Us Safer.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks throughout a marketing campaign rally at Erie Insurance Arena, in Erie, Pa., Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)(AP)

According to an investigation by journalist Christopher Rufo, Harris allegedly copied content material from numerous sources with out correct attribution, together with from Wikipedia, wires, press releases, and experiences. This revelation may function an “October shock” because the 2024 presidential election nears.

Rufo claims that Harris “plagiarized at the very least a dozen sections of her criminal-justice guide, Smart on Crime,” and additional alleges that “the present vp even lifted materials from Wikipedia.”

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Rufo’s investigation concerned the experience of Stefan Weber, a famend “plagiarism hunter” who has uncovered related infractions by politicians within the German-speaking world. Weber reportedly discovered over a dozen situations of “vicious plagiarism fragments” in Harris’ guide, the place textual content was copied with out quotation.

Harris allegedly plagiarized at the very least 12 sections in her guide

One of probably the most notable examples features a part of the guide that seems to have been lifted straight from a press launch issued by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Harris reportedly used the language verbatim in her guide with out offering credit score or quotation. Similarly, she is accused of copying a report from NBC News on highschool commencement charges, once more failing to present correct attribution.

Rufo wrote, “They not solely lifted materials from sources with out correct attribution, however in at the very least one case, relied on a low-quality supply, which doubtlessly undermined the accuracy of their conclusion.”

Back in 2008, when Harris was writing Smart on Crime, she is alleged to have copied language from the Wikipedia article nearly phrase for phrase, together with a factual error that was current on the web page on the time. Smart on Crime reportedly comprises materials lifted from a Bureau of Justice Assistance report on crime statistics for West Palm Beach.

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“There is nothing good about plagiarism, which is the equal of a tutorial crime,” Rufo concluded.

These plagiarism claims shortly triggered reactions from political opponents

Former President Donald Trump’s marketing campaign and operating mate, Senator J.D. Vance, seized on the information to criticize Harris, tweeting, “Lmao Kamala didn’t even write her personal guide!”. Donald Trump Jr. additionally chimed in, writing, “Yikes! More proof that Kamala Harris is a fraud!!!”