The Chicago Tribune on Wednesday accused a Republican congressional candidate\u00a0of plagiarizing a newspaper article in an email soliciting campaign donations.<\/p>\n
The article, which appeared online Friday and in the newspaper\u2019s Monday print edition, discusses Gov. J.B. Pritzker\u2019s (D) support for vote-by-mail options and logistical complications of the process.<\/p>\n
The Tribune said the following passage from the article appears verbatim in an email from House GOP candidate Jeanne Ives, with the exception of “VBM” added in front of “advocates”:\u00a0\u201cEven advocates acknowledge the need to allow people \u2014 among them those who don\u2019t trust the post office \u2014 to show up at a polling place to cast their vote. There are also the added costs of printing, mailing, securing and counting mail-in ballots, as well as allowing for drop-off boxes for those who don\u2019t believe their vote will be delivered in time.”<\/p>\n
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Kathleen Murphy, Ives\u2019s communication director, said she was responsible for the email text, telling the Tribune: \u201cThe line (that) was included is my fault, not Jeanne\u2019s. I am the director of communication for the campaign, the content of an email is my responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat should have been cited \u2014 absolutely,\u201d Murphy added, according to the Tribune. \u201cInformation gets pulled from different sources, and it was an oversight. We will review emails more carefully going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ives is challenging\u00a0Rep. Sean CastenSean CastenThe Hill’s Campaign Report: Buzz builds around Warren for VP Gun control group rolls out House endorsements Human Rights Campaign rolls out congressional endorsements on Equality Act anniversary MORE (D) for\u00a0Illinois\u2019s 6th\u00a0Congressional District in the Chicago suburbs. The Cook Political Report lists the race as “likely Democratic.”<\/p>\n
The campaign email\u00a0alleged that the push for increased vote-by-mail\u00a0was an attempt by Democrats to advance a \u201cradical agenda,\u201d saying, \u201cWhile I understand the concerns about the impact of COVID-19, we can\u2019t lose who we are as a country in the process. All Americans deserve to know that the results of our elections are legitimate and we cannot compromise the integrity of our elections.\u201d<\/p>\n
President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE has also frequently spoken out against voting by mail, claiming without\u00a0supporting evidence that it is used to commit voter fraud. Trump voted by mail in this year’s Florida GOP primary.<\/p>\n
Ives, a former member of the Illinois House, unsuccessfully challenged then-Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) in the state’s 2018 Republican primary.<\/p>\n