Harris book publisher appears to release internal memo mistakenly after plagiarism allegations

The journalist who accused Vice President Kamala Harris of plagiarizing a book she wrote in 2009 claimed her publisher is in crisis mode and attempting “damage control.”

Christopher Rufo highlighted on Monday at least a dozen portions of Smart on Crime that appear to have shown significant similarities to Wikipedia entries and reports. Smart on Crime’s publishing company, Chronicle Books, “accidentally” revealed its strategy to respond to the debacle to Rufo, according to the journalist later on Monday evening.

“Kamala Harris's publisher, Chronicle Books, is in damage control mode,” Rufo wrote in a post to X. “The company accidentally sent my team an internal communication indicating that VP Lauren Hoffman is requiring that all inquiries about Harris's plagiarism go through the higher-ups.”

The journalist attached a screenshot to his post that appeared to show top Chronicle executives advising employees about what to say to people inquiring about the Smart on Crime plagiarism accusations.

“Hey Sarah, Per Lauren Hoffman (VP, Executive Director, marketing and publicity) please do not respond or comment on any inquiries regarding SMART ON CRIME, and please continue to forward them directly to me,” the email shared by Rufo begins.

BREAKING: Kamala Harris's publisher, Chronicle Books, is in damage control mode. The company accidentally sent my team an internal communication indicating that VP Lauren Hoffman is requiring that all inquiries about Harris's plagiarism go through the higher ups. pic.twitter.com/seiF3bu0R2

“Really appreciate your help on this it is a very sensitive topic,” the email continues.

With the accusations coming 22 days before the election, the Harris campaign has argued that the book “clearly cited sources and statistics in footnotes and endnotes throughout,” per comments to the New York Times.

But Rufo said Harris and her publisher know she is lying.

"Paraphrasing Solzhenitsyn: They know Kamala lied," he said. "They know that we know Kamala lied. In America, plagiarism has become a moral pillar of the regime — and they will slander anyone who notices."

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Throughout Monday, Rufo published additional excerpts from Smart on Crime that he says prove Harris plagiarized, and he criticized legacy media outlets such as the New York Times for "refus[ing]" to cover the reports.

EXCLUSIVE: This is another instance of verbatim plagiarism by Kamala Harris, which we had provided to the New York Times over the weekend—and which the Times refused to acknowledge in its report today.

This makes six significant instances. And we have more in reserve. pic.twitter.com/DULCaoyYSP

"This is another instance of verbatim plagiarism by Kamala Harris, which we had provided to the New York Times over the weekend — and which the Times refused to acknowledge in its report today. This makes six significant instances. And we have more in reserve," he wrote on X.