Post - Writer stole from Enquirer

NEW YORK -- A freelancer for the New York Post sold the tabloid a story that was plagiarized from the National Enquirer, the Post said Tuesday.

The story, which appeared May 15 in the Post's business section, concerned the decision by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to phase out former talk show host Kathie Lee Gifford's clothing line from its stores this year.

In a story Tuesday, the Post said freelancer Robin Gregg admitted he plagiarized the story from the Enquirer. "We were deceived by Mr. Gregg and he will never contribute to the Post again," editor in chief Col Allan said.

A message left with a spokesman for the National Enquirer was not immediately returned. But a comparison of the two stories shows that the Post story is a shorter version of one that appears in the current issue of the Enquirer, with the first four paragraphs almost identical.

The Post said Gregg "infrequently contributed" to the newspaper. A search of the newspaper's archives turned up fewer than 10 stories with his byline in the last year, all reported from the Los Angeles area.

A message left at the only number belonging to a Robin Gregg in Los Angeles was not immediately returned.

A spokeswoman for the Post could not immediately say whether the newspaper planned to investigate other articles submitted by Gregg.