Speechwriter takes fall for Melania Trump's plagiarism, says her offer to quit was refused
Mark Z. Barabak
The in-house staff writer did it.
After more than two days of
evasion, denials and contradictory explanations, the Trump campaign
released a statement Wednesday – "to whom it may concern" – ascribing
the plagiarized passages in Melanie Trump's convention speech to a
scribe working for his corporate operation.
"In working with
Melania Trump on her recent first lady speech, we discussed many people
who inspired her and messages she wanted to share with the American
people,” said Meredith McIver, who described herself as a longtime and
admirer of the Trump family. “A person she always liked is Michelle
Obama.”
By McIver’s account, Melania Trump read her some passages
from Obama’s speech at the 2008 Democratic convention and they
inadvertently made their way into the final draft that she delivered
Monday at the GOP’s gathering in Cleveland.
“This was my mistake
and I feel terrible for the chaos I have caused Melania and the Trumps,
as well as Mrs. Obama,” McIver said. “No harm was meant.”
She said
she offered her resignation to Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, as
well as his family, but it was rejected. “Mr. Trump told me that people
make innocent mistakes and that we learn and grow these experiences.”
McIver’s
account was one of several explanations offered by the Trump campaign
and its representatives, including denial that any plagiarism had taken
place. Before the controversy erupted, Melania told NBC she had written
virtually the entire speech by herself.
NYT: Speechwriter takes responsibility
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