The plagiarism scandal surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris has deepened, with a New York Times consultant admitting the issue is "more serious" than initially reported, as new allegations of copied passages from her 2009 book *Smart on Crime* come to light.
Vice President Kamala Harris’s plagiarism scandal is "more serious" than initially claimed, according to New York Times plagiarism consultant Jonathan Bailey, who admitted Thursday that Harris’s 2009 book *Smart on Crime* contains multiple instances of lifted passages. The New York Times previously downplayed the accusations, labeling the plagiarism "not serious," despite revelations that lengthy sections were copied from sources like Wikipedia and the Associated Press.
However, Bailey’s recent statement contradicts this narrative. In a new article for *Plagiarism Today*, Bailey revealed that after reviewing additional allegations, he believes the situation is more significant than first assessed. "While there are problems with this work, the pattern points to sloppy writing habits, not a malicious intent to defraud," Bailey explained, adding, "Is it problematic? Yes. But it’s also not the wholesale fraud that many have claimed it to be."
A 40-page dossier reportedly contains 29 allegations of plagiarism against Harris, with 18 focusing on her book and 11 on later self-plagiarisms. Bailey dismissed the self-plagiarism claims, noting that politicians frequently repeat themselves in speeches, but acknowledged that several passages in *Smart on Crime* do indeed constitute plagiarism.
The scandal has sparked further controversy as Harris's campaign continues to deny the accusations. Despite allies in the media, like the New York Times and *The New Republic*, admitting to instances of plagiarism, the Harris campaign issued a statement on Tuesday refuting claims that she plagiarized multiple passages.
Conservative journalist Christopher Rufo first exposed the allegations, based on research by Austrian plagiarism expert Dr. Stefan Weber. Harris campaign spokesman James Singer dismissed the growing criticism, accusing Republicans of desperation: “Rightwing operatives are getting desperate as they see the bipartisan coalition of support Vice President Harris is building.”
So far, Harris has not been questioned directly about the plagiarism allegations. High-profile interviews, including those with Fox News’s Bret Baier and Charlamagne tha God, failed to address the controversy, leaving many critics unsatisfied as the issue remains unresolved.
With Harris trailing in polls in critical battleground states, as reported in recent RCP polling averages, the scandal adds yet another challenge to her campaign. Whether these accusations will have any lasting impact on her candidacy remains to be seen, but they are unlikely to disappear anytime soon as scrutiny over her credibility intensifies.