Plagiarism Accusation Forces John Walsh Out of Senate Run

Walsh is not resigning his Senate seat.

Montana Democratic Sen. John Walsh announced Thursday that he is dropping out of the Senate race after it became clear that he could not overcome the fallout from a plagiarism scandal.

"The 2007 research paper from my time at the U.S. Army War College has become a distraction from the debate you expect and deserve," Walsh said in a statement. "I am ending my campaign so that I can focus on fulfilling the responsibility entrusted to me as your U.S. Senator. You deserve someone who will always fight for Montana, and I will."

Walsh is not resigning his Senate seat, and will serve out the term that ends in January.