Kamala Harris Accused of Plagiarizing Portions of 2009 Book

Vice President Kamala Harris is facing accusations of plagiarism after portions of her 2009 book, Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor’s Plan to Make Us Safer, were allegedly copied from various sources, including Wikipedia. The scandal was uncovered by Stefan Weber, an Austrian plagiarism expert, who found at least 24 passages in the book that appear to be lifted from other authors without proper attribution.

Weber, known for exposing plagiarism among European politicians, posted examples of the alleged plagiarism on his blog earlier this week. Conservative activist Chris Rufo followed up on Weber’s findings, confirming "at least a dozen sections" of plagiarized material in Harris’ book. Rufo compared the severity of the plagiarism to the scandal that led to former Harvard president Claudine Gay's resignation earlier this year.

• One of the most damning examples involves a passage taken nearly word-for-word from a 2008 Wikipedia entry on New York City’s Midtown Community Court.

• Harris’ book, coauthored with Joan O'C Hamilton, allegedly misquoted reports due to copying Wikipedia wording, resulting in claims unsupported by evidence.

• The book was published ahead of Harris’ campaign for California attorney general, helping shape her image as a tough-on-crime prosecutor a reputation that is now under fire.

The plagiarism accusations come at a precarious time for Harris, who is positioning herself for a 2024 presidential run. Rufo noted the irony of Harris plagiarizing passages about crime prevention, an area where she has already been accused of flip-flopping throughout her career. From initially portraying herself as a tough prosecutor to now supporting lenient policies like amnesty, Harris’ shifting stances are raising questions about her authenticity.

These plagiarism revelations add to a growing list of controversies surrounding Harris’ candidacy. Just a few months ago, she was accused of copying campaign promises from former President Donald Trump. In August, Harris announced she supported eliminating taxes on tips, echoing a similar promise Trump had made earlier in his campaign. She has also attempted to position herself as a border hawk, despite advocating for open borders and amnesty policies.

This latest plagiarism scandal further undermines Harris’ credibility, as voters increasingly question her integrity and policy positions. In an election cycle where authenticity and trust are crucial, these revelations could seriously damage Harris' presidential ambitions.

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