US presidential election 2024: ‘Smart on Crime’, Kamala Harris’s first book faces plagiarism allegations: Report

Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris, 59, is facing accusations of plagiarism in her first book — “Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor’s Plan to Make Us Safer”– according to a new report.

The report, published on Monday by author and activist Christopher Rufo, alleges that several passages from Harris’s 2009 book were lifted from Wikipedia and other sources without proper attribution, the Daily Mail reported.

Rufo’s findings are based on an investigation by Stefan Weber, an Austrian academic known for exposing plagiarism.

Weber reportedly found over a dozen examples of plagiarism in Harris’s book, co-authored with Joan O’C Hamilton.

Amongst the sources allegedly copied were Wikipedia entries, an Associated Press article, and a press release from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

One notable instance, according to Weber’s side-by-side comparisons, shows that Harris used content from a 2008 AP story about low graduation rates without giving credit, according to the Daily Mail.

Another section includes text from a Bureau of Justice Assistance report on crime statistics in West Palm Beach, which was also used without attribution.

Rufo remarked that Harris’s book even relied on a “low-quality source” in at least one instance, undermining the credibility of the conclusions drawn.

“They not only lifted material from sources without proper attribution, but in at least one case, relied on a low-quality source, which potentially undermined the accuracy of their conclusion,” Rufo wrote in his report, reported the Daily Mail.

Harris’s campaign has yet to respond to the allegations.

The accusations have sparked a reaction from prominent figures in politics, including former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance.

“Lmao Kamala didn’t even write her own book!” Vance wrote on X, linking to Rufo’s report.

Donald Trump Jr. also weighed in on social media, posting, “Yikes! More evidence that Kamala Harris is a fraud!!!”

Plagiarism has historically damaged political careers, as it raises questions about a candidate’s integrity and seriousness. President Joe Biden’s first presidential run in 1987 was marred by plagiarism accusations after he was found to have copied speeches and mannerisms from a British politician. He also faced similar accusations during law school, according to the Daily Mail.

While ghostwriters are commonly used by politicians to write books, Harris’ name and image are prominently displayed as the author of Smart on Crime, increasing pressure for her to address the controversy. Rufo urged Harris and her publisher to issue a correction and retract the plagiarised sections of the book.

“There is nothing smart about plagiarism, which is the equivalent of an academic crime,” Rufo wrote.

Harris’ book was a significant step in her career, boosting her national profile as she prepared to run for Attorney General of California. The allegations come as a potential blow to her credibility, particularly as the political landscape intensifies ahead of the next election.

Rufo’s report follows similar scrutiny of other public figures, including former Harvard President Claudine Gay, who resigned last month after facing plagiarism accusations. Gay’s resignation was further fuelled by her controversial response to protests on campus.

With the plagiarism accusations now out in the open, Harris and her team may face growing pressure to provide a formal response or take corrective action.