What Laura Italiano Said About the New York Post's Kamala Harris Book Story

The journalist who wrote an article claiming that Vice President Kamala Harris' book was being distributed to migrant children has resigned from the New York Post,and said she was "ordered" to write the story.

Laura Italiano took to Twitter on Tuesday to explain her decision to leave the New York tabloid following backlash to the article, which falsely reported that Harris' book Superheroes Are Everywhere was included in "welcome kits" for migrant children in Los Angeles.

The story was widely reported by conservative media outlets and shared by some Republican politicians before it was debunked by The Washington Post. In reality, just one known copy of Harris' book had been given to a child. It had been donated by a member of the public during a book and toy drive in Long Beach.

The article was credited to Italiano, who addressed the issue on Twitter.

"An announcement: Today I handed in my resignation to my editors at the New York Post," she wrote.

"The Kamala Harris story -- an incorrect story I was ordered to write and which I failed to push back hard enough against -- was my breaking point.

"It's been a privilege to cover the City of New York for its liveliest, wittiest tabloid -- a paper filled with reporters and editors I admire deeply and hold as friends. I'm sad to leave," Italiano said.

The article was published on the front page of the Post's print edition on April 23 and ran under the headline "Kam On In." It also featured on the newspaper's website. It was reportedly based on a single photo of a copy of the vice president's 2019 book propped up against a backpack.

The online version was briefly deleted, but was later reinstated with an editor's note saying: "The original version of this article said migrant kids were getting Harris' book in a welcome kit but has been updated to note that only one known copy of the book was given to a child."

A second article about White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki's response to a question about the book was also deleted before being reinstated. An editor's note was later added to that article.

Long Beach spokesperson Kevin Lee told the Washington Post about the appeal that led to a copy of Harris' book being donated.

"The city of Long Beach, in partnership with the Long Beach convention and visitors bureau, has a city-wide book and toy drive that is ongoing to support the migrant children who are temporarily staying in Long Beach at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shelter," Lee said.

"The book you reference is one of hundreds of books that have already been donated. The book was not purchased by HHS or the City."

Harris is leading the White House response to the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border and has come under fire from Republicans, who say she should be on-site to deal with the problems.

Newsweek has asked Laura Italiano and the New York Post for comment on this article.