Treasury spokeswoman revises dissertation after Columbia confirms ‘localized instances of plagiarism’

The Treasury Department’s top spokeswoman revised her Ph.D. dissertation after a review from Columbia University found “localized instances of plagiarism.”

The university’s investigation into the 2000 dissertation by Monica Crowley, the Treasury Department’s assistant secretary for public affairs and a former conservative commentator, closed earlier this month and required her to make changes to her work. 

“The investigation identified localized instances of plagiarism, but concluded that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that Dr. Crowley committed research misconduct,” Columbia said in a statement. “For the dissertation to stand, the University required certain corrections, which Dr. Crowley has provided.” 

Columbia University required Treasury’s Monica Crowley to revise 32 instances of plagiarism in her PhD dissertation after a two-year investigation into her work. https://t.co/6eRyMPXL0h pic.twitter.com/Gr7AzxbF1x

— Alan Rappeport (@arappeport) December 20, 2019

Crowley told The New York Times she was happy to address any “inadvertent and honest” errors and update the document.

“I am delighted that they have concluded that there was no research misconduct, as I have maintained all along,” said Crowley. “I was also happy to address any inadvertent and honest errors and update the work.”

The university said the investigation into Crowley’s dissertation began after she was first accused of plagiarism in 2017 ahead of her nomination to the administration as spokeswoman for the National Security Council. She ultimately backed out of the job after CNN and Politico revealed multiple instances of plagiarism in her Ph.D. dissertation, her new book and newspaper columns. 

Crowley in the past has slammed the scandal as a “political hit job.”

“What happened to me was a despicable, straight-up political hit job, OK?” Crowley said in 2017. “It’s been debunked, my editor has completely supported me and backed me up.”

Beyond her dissertation, Crowley has also faced plagiarism allegations against other works. Her book, “What the (Bleep) Just Happened,” is no longer being offered for sale until Crowley has the chance to “source and revise the material,” publisher HarperCollins said in 2017.