A recent report has shaken up the political landscape, accusing Vice President Kamala Harris of plagiarizing portions of her first book, Smart on Crime, with claims that multiple passages were lifted directly from sources like Wikipedia and official justice reports without attribution. The book, published in 2009 and intended to promote Harris’s criminal justice vision, now faces allegations that it contains over a dozen instances of uncredited content. This includes exact phrases from the Associated Press, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and even Goodwill Industries, according to analysis by Austrian plagiarism investigator Stefan Weber.
The news has quickly drawn criticism, with former President Donald Trump’s campaign and figures like Donald Trump Jr. pouncing on the controversy as evidence of a “fraudulent” career move by Harris. In response, author Christopher Rufo has called for Harris to retract the uncredited passages and issue a public correction.
The accusations of plagiarism, often damaging to political figures, have historical precedent. President Biden’s 1987 campaign saw a major setback after he was accused of plagiarizing speeches. Harris’s silence on the matter thus far is only fueling speculation about the validity of the claims, which critics argue undercut the “smart” branding of the book itself.
Will Harris address these potentially career-altering allegations? In a climate where political reputation is closely guarded, the Vice President’s next steps are likely to be under intense scrutiny.
