Monica Crowley, Donald Trump’s pick to be senior director of strategic communications at the National Security Council, said on Monday that she will not take up the job.
It has been alleged that Crowley, a radio host, columnist and sometime contributor to Fox News, plagiarised parts of her PhD thesis and a 2012 book.
“After much reflection I have decided to remain in New York to pursue other opportunities and will not be taking a position in the incoming administration,” she said in a statement to the Washington Times on Monday.
Crowley previously worked for the conservative DC paper and was also an assistant to former president Richard Nixon.
She added: “I greatly appreciate being asked to be part of President-elect Trump’s team and I will continue to enthusiastically support him and his agenda for American renewal.”
Last week, Harper Collins removed from sale digital editions of the book, What the (Bleep) Just Happened. The publisher said it would not sell the volume until “such time as the author has the opportunity to source and revise the material”.
Retired Lt Gen Michael Flynn, Trump’s similarly controversial choice for national security adviser, said on Monday: “The [National Security Council] will miss the opportunity to have Monica Crowley as part of our team. We wish her all the best in her future.”
The allegations of plagiarism against Crowley were made by CNN and Politico. Crowley did not comment but the Trump transition team stood by her, praising her “exceptional insight and thoughtful work on how to turn this country around” and saying the allegations were a “politically motivated attack”.
