A Trump family staff writer who helped Melania Trump pen her Monday night address to the Republican convention has spoken out amid a firestorm of complaints that the Republican nominee's wife plagiarized First Lady Michelle Obama.
Melania's speech at the RNC Monday night quickly came under fire when observers realized part of her remarks closely matched Michelle Obama's remarks at the 2008 Democratic convention.
The staffer, Meredith McIver, said she and the candidate's wife discussed "many people who inspired her," which included the current first lady.
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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his wife Melania attend the evening session of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 18, 2016.
The Republican Party opened its national convention, kicking off a four-day political jamboree that will anoint billionaire Donald Trump as its presidential nominee. / AFP / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS (Photo credit should read ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images)
Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump gets a kiss from his wife Melania after she concluded her remarks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar
Melania Trump gestures at her husband Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump as they leave the stage, after she concluded her remarks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump escorts his wife Melania after her speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. REUTERS/Jim Young
Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures at his wife Melania after she concluded her remarks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar
Melania Trump, wife of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Kauzlarich
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets his wife Melania after her speech during the evening session of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans arena in Cleveland, Ohio on July 18, 2016.
The Republican Party opened its national convention Monday, kicking off a four-day political jamboree that will anoint billionaire Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee. / AFP / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS (Photo credit should read ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images)
Melania Trump, wife of Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. REUTERS/Rick Wilking
Melania Trump, wife of Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar
Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump kisses his wife Melania after she concluded her remarks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump introduces his wife Melania on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Republican Party opened its national convention, kicking off a four-day political jamboree that will anoint billionaire Donald Trump as its presidential nominee. / AFP / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
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"Over the phone, she read me some passages from Mrs. Obama's speech as examples," McIver wrote. "I wrote them down and later included some of the phrasing in the draft that ultimately became the final speech. 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."
McIver went on to say she offered her resignation for the error, but that the Trump family rejected it.
"Mr. Trump told me that people make innocent mistakes and that we learn and grow from these experiences," she wrote.
An early draft of the speech obtained by NBC News this week did not include the section that appears to have been lifted from the 2008 convention speech.
