Melania Trump's speech writer apologises for her errors

US: Speechwriter for Donald Trump's company Meredith McIver takes responsibility for Melania Trump's plagiarized speech delivered at the Republican convention on Monday saying that she made a mistake in using passages from Michelle Obama's 2008 speech.

In a statement issued by the campaign office, Meredith McIver shoulders the blame but also acknowledge that Melania Trump knew the passages were from the first lady's speech.
Mclver said of Melania Trump; 

"A person she has always liked is Michelle Obama," 

"Over the phone, she read me some passages from Mrs. Obama's speech as examples. I wrote them down and later included some of the phrasing in the draft that ultimately became the final speech."

Mclver's statement comes after Trump's campaign office had insisted the last two days that Melania's speech wasn't plagiarized calling the criticism absurd.

McIver, who was a co-author of some of Donald Trump's books, offered her resignation but was rejected by Donald Trump.

The speech side by side

Mrs. Trump 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."

 Mrs Obama in 2008 said:

"And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: like, you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond, that you do what you say you're going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect."

There were obvious plagiarism from the above passage dealing with conveying to children the phrase "there is no limit to what they can achieve".

"I did not check Mrs. Obama's speeches. This was my mistake, and I feel terrible for the chaos I have caused Melania and the Trumps, as well as to Mrs Obama. No harm was meant."

In the statement, McIver was described as an "in-house staff writer at the Trump Organization."

"I asked to put out this statement because I did not like seeing the way this was distracting from Mr. Trump's historic campaign for president and Melania's beautiful message and presentation," McIver said.

She apologised for "the confusion and hysteria my mistake has caused." Mclver added.