Trump staff writer takes responsibility for Melania plagiarism row

A staff writer of the Trump Organization, the company owned by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, has claimed responsibility for inserting passages in a speech given at the Republican National Convention by Trump's wife Melania that resembled parts of a 2008 speech by first lady Michelle Obama.

The woman, Meredith McIver, released a statement on Wednesday apologizing for using the language, which she said Melania Trump recited to her in a phone call, without checking to see how closely it matched Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention eight years ago.

In a major embarrassment to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his campaign, his wife Melania Trump was on Tuesday accused of plagiarism in her first address to the Republican National Convention. Critics had said parts of her speech were lifted verbatim from remarks First Lady Michelle Obama made in 2008.

In her address, Melania said, "From a young age, my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise, that you treat people with respect. They taught and showed me values and morals in their daily lives. That is a lesson that I continue to pass along to our son. And we need to pass those lessons on to the many generations to follow. Because we want our children in this nation to know that the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them."

That small section of Melania Trump's 15-minute speech was similar to part of Michelle Obama's convention speech in 2008, in support of her husband Barack Obama.