MSNBC anchor Rev. Al Sharpton is no stranger to controversy, as revelations of a “pay to play” scam add to his lengthy history of scandals.
Last week, MSNBC said it was “unaware” that Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign contributed $500,000 to Sharpton’s National Action Network foundation in advance of a pleasant Oct. 20 interview with the Democratic nominee only weeks before the election.
Following Harris’ defeat to President-elect Donald Trump, FEC documents revealed that the Harris campaign made two $250,000 donations to Sharpton’s nonprofit organisation in September and October.
However, the MSNBC weekend presenter did not inform viewers about the obvious conflict of interest before or after the interview. He also failed to inform his network managers about the gifts, according to the Washington Free Beacon, which broke the story.
Sharpton’s political affiliations are no secret; he openly supports Harris and the Democratic Party, even speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. However, the six-figure transaction between his firm and the Harris campaign is a “bridge too far” for his MSNBC colleagues, according to a network insider.
While it is unclear whether Sharpton will face any consequences for his evident conflict of interest, this is the latest issue to hit the outspoken crusader. These are some of the controversies he has been embroiled in over the years.
Tax troubles
Sharpton has a reputation for not paying his taxes properly. In 1993, he pleaded guilty to not filing his 1986 tax return in exchange for having two felony charges dropped.
In 2008, it was discovered that Sharpton owed approximately $1.5 million in delinquent taxes.
The New York Times detailed some of his past financial issues throughout the years. In 1990, he was acquitted of felony charges after being accused of stealing $250,000 from a youth organisation.
Three years later, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour charge for failing to file his state income tax return. One of his for-profit companies, Raw Talent, was also busted for failing to pay taxes for several years.
“Records reviewed by The New York Times show more than $4.5 million in current state and federal tax liens against him and his for-profit businesses,” according to an article from 2014.
Promoting the Tawana Brawley rape hoax
Despite his significant role at MSNBC, Sharpton is most known for supporting famed rape hoaxer Tawana Brawley.
Brawley, a 15-year-old Black girl, claimed in 1987 that she had been kidnapped and raped by a group of White males after disappearing for four days from her New York home. She was smeared in faeces, with racial slurs scribbled all over her body.
Sharpton was one of her closest advisers and most outspoken supporters, exacerbating racial tensions across the country in the process. A grand jury finally determined that her claims were untrue.
One of the men charged by Brawley sued Sharpton for defamation, and he was awarded $65,000 in damages. Years after Sharpton said he didn’t have the money, his followers ended up paying the tab.
Sharpton still has no regrets about defending Brawley.
“I have no evidence that I was misled,” Sharpton stated during a January 2023 interview. “My position was that there was this allegation from this young lady that was really questionable behaviour by some that she accused.”
History of antisemitism
The prominent activist has a troubling track record of antisemitism throughout the years.
In 1991, Sharpton backed New York City College Professor Leonard Jeffries, who stirred anger with his speech accusing “rich Jews” of financing the slave trade and controlling Hollywood, saying they “put together a system of destruction for Black people.” He addressed the criticism by saying, “If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house.”
That same year, Sharpton incited a lethal antisemitic mob in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, after a Jewish man fatally struck a 7-year-old Black boy with his car in a horrible accident.
At the boy’s funeral, Sharpton stated, “The world will tell us he was killed by accident.” Yes, there was a social accident. Allowing apartheid ambulance service in Crown Heights is an accident. Discuss how Oppenheimer in South Africa transports diamonds directly to Tel Aviv and deals with diamond merchants right here in Crown Heights.” His term of “diamond merchants” referred to Jewish jewellers. He also organised protests with cries such as “Kill the Jews!” and “No Justice, No Peace!”
The disturbances resulted in the deadly stabbing of rabbinical scholar Yankel Rosenbaum by a Black teenager.
The event was investigated, but no charges were filed. However, once the Jewish man relocated to Israel, Sharpton travelled to the Jewish State to track him down. According to the New York Daily News, a woman approached Sharpton at the airport and ordered him to “go to hell,” to which he responded, “I am already in hell.” “I’m in Israel.”
In 1995, Sharpton referred to a Jewish business owner in Harlem as a “White interloper” when the store owner upped the rent of its Black subtenant after the building’s owner, a Black Pentecostal church, hiked its own rent.
Sharpton and his National Action Network organised weeks-long rallies that resulted in a seven-person shooting and the total destruction of the Jewish store owner’s company.
The prominent activist has a troubling track record of antisemitism throughout the years.
In 1991, Sharpton backed New York City College Professor Leonard Jeffries, who stirred anger with his speech accusing “rich Jews” of financing the slave trade and controlling Hollywood, saying they “put together a system of destruction for Black people.” He addressed the criticism by saying, “If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house.”
The prominent activist has a troubling track record of antisemitism throughout the years.
In 1991, Sharpton backed New York City College Professor Leonard Jeffries, who stirred anger with his speech accusing “rich Jews” of financing the slave trade and controlling Hollywood, saying they “put together a system of destruction for Black people.” He addressed the criticism by saying, “If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house.”
The prominent activist has a troubling track record of antisemitism throughout the years.
In 1991, Sharpton backed New York City College Professor Leonard Jeffries, who stirred anger with his speech accusing “rich Jews” of financing the slave trade and controlling Hollywood, saying they “put together a system of destruction for Black people.” He addressed the criticism by saying, “If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house.”
The prominent activist has a troubling track record of antisemitism throughout the years.
In 1991, Sharpton backed New York City College Professor Leonard Jeffries, who stirred anger with his speech accusing “rich Jews” of financing the slave trade and controlling Hollywood, saying they “put together a system of destruction for Black people.” He addressed the criticism by saying, “If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house.”
The prominent activist has a troubling track record of antisemitism throughout the years.
In 1991, Sharpton backed New York City College Professor Leonard Jeffries, who stirred anger with his speech accusing “rich Jews” of financing the slave trade and controlling Hollywood, saying they “put together a system of destruction for Black people.” He addressed the criticism by saying, “If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house.”
The prominent activist has a troubling track record of antisemitism throughout the years.
In 1991, Sharpton backed New York City College Professor Leonard Jeffries, who stirred anger with his speech accusing “rich Jews” of financing the slave trade and controlling Hollywood, saying they “put together a system of destruction for Black people.” He addressed the criticism by saying, “If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house.”