Plagiarism row takes shine off for Donald Trump

A staff writer at the Trump Organisation, the company owned by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, has claimed responsibility for passages in a speech to the Republican National Convention by Melania Trump resembled parts of a 2008 speech by First Lady Michelle Obama.

The writer, Meredith McIver, apologised for using certain phrases, which she said Ms Trump recited to her in a phone call, without checking to see how closely it matched Ms Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention eight years ago.

Trump’s campaign hopes his formal nomination for presidential candidate will end the dissent surging through the Republican party that has overshadowed the convention’s chaotic start, including the plagiarism charge involving Ms Trump.