Sen. Paul footnotes his Citadel speech

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) included 33 footnotes in the transcript of his speech delivered Tuesday at The Citadel military college in South Carolina.  [WATCH VIDEO]

Facing charges of plagiarism earlier this month, Paul said he would start footnoting his speeches like academic papers “if it will make people leave me the hell alone.” 

{mosads}The senator, who’s seen as a possible 2016 presidential candidate, has been accused of lifting whole passages in earlier speeches and his book from other sources without proper citation. He has acknowledged the errors and instituted a tougher vetting process, including the footnoted speeches. 

However, he has long held the errors were minor problems of footnoting and citation, and he has maintained the allegations were exaggerated. 

In his detailed footnoting, he cites sources from The Hill, The New York Times, Pew, the Senate and many others. 

Paul’s first citation came in paragraph three while pointing out many in the audience would go on to serve in the military. 

“They will serve bravely and with purpose. They follow in the footsteps of graduates like Col. Myron Harrington, US Marine Corps, retired, Citadel class of 1960,” he said, citing The Citadel’s Department of External Affairs. 

Tuesday’s speech was his first major address since the plagiarism scandal broke. 

He addressed the efficacy of foreign aid and also reiterated his point that the attacks in Benghazi, Libya, last year should disqualify Hillary Clinton from serving as president.