Vice President Kamala Harris, a co-author of a book on crime, has been accused of plagiarism by an Austrian professor known for exposing academic misconduct. Dr. Stefan Weber, also known as the “plagiarism hunter,” claims to have found over a dozen instances of lifted material in the book, published in 2009.
According to Christopher Rufo, a writer for the Manhattan Institute, Harris allegedly copied material from various sources without proper citation or attribution. One example includes a 2008 NBC News article on graduation rates in city schools, which appeared in the book without proper citation. Similarly, several paragraphs from a John Jay College of Criminal Justice press release on efforts to combat illegal drug markets were allegedly copied nearly verbatim. Language describing a nonprofit group also seemed to be lifted from an Urban Institute report.
But perhaps the most concerning examples of plagiarism are the ones where Harris appears to have taken directly from Wikipedia, without even citing the source. In one section discussing a New York court program, Harris allegedly copied long passages from the online encyclopedia without proper attribution. This raises questions about the accuracy and reliability of the information presented in the book.
Moreover, Harris also reportedly lifted a description of a crime-ridden neighborhood in West Palm Beach from a Bureau of Justice Assistance report on community court programs. These various instances of plagiarism, according to Rufo, are comparable in severity to those found in former Harvard president Claudine Gay’s doctoral thesis.
EXCLUSIVE: Kamala Harris plagiarized at least a dozen sections of her criminal-justice book, Smart on Crime, according to a new investigation. The current vice president even lifted material from Wikipedia.
We have the receipts. ????
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) October 14, 2024
Though Harris may have relied on a ghostwriter to draft her book, as is common among public figures, this does not excuse her from responsibility. As Rufo points out, Harris put her name on the cover of the book and therefore should take ownership for the content within it.
This is not the first time Harris has been accused of plagiarism. During an August rally in Las Vegas, Harris was criticized for copying former President Donald Trump’s “no tax on tips” proposal, which he announced in June. This raises concerns about Harris’ lack of original ideas and her tendency to borrow from others without proper attribution.
In another section of the book, Harris, without proper attribution, reproduced extensive sections from a John Jay College of Criminal Justice press release. She and her co-author passed off the language as their own, copying multiple paragraphs virtually verbatim. Here is the… pic.twitter.com/9FpsxQE8Sz
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) October 14, 2024
In light of these allegations, it is clear that Harris lacks the integrity and credibility that should be expected of a public figure. It is concerning that someone in a position of power, such as the Vice President, would engage in such unethical practices. It is also concerning that Harris would copy ideas from her political opponent, such as Trump’s tip tax proposal, instead of coming up with her own solutions.
This plagiarism scandal sheds light on the character of Kamala Harris and raises questions about her ability to lead. The American people deserve a leader who is honest and original, not one who plagiarizes from others. President Trump, despite his own faults, has proven time and time again that he is a strong and innovative leader who puts America first. It is clear that the American people made the right choice in electing him as their President.