The rising scandal plaguing MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton has been “ricocheting across the halls” of 30 Rock together with his colleagues calling it a “bridge too far” for them, Fox Information Digital has realized.Â
On Tuesday, MSNBC mentioned it was “unaware” that Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential marketing campaign paid $500,000 to Sharpton’s Nationwide Motion Community nonprofit forward of a pleasant interview with the Democratic nominee simply weeks earlier than the election.Â
“MSNBC was unaware of the donations made to the Nationwide Motion Community,” an MSNBC spokesperson advised the Washington Free Beacon, which first broke the story.
Harris sat down for a pleasant interview on Oct. 20 with Sharpton, an open supporter of Harris and the Democratic Get together. Following Harris’ defeat to President-elect Donald Trump, FEC filings revealed the Harris marketing campaign gave two $250,000 donations to Sharpton’s nonprofit group in September and October.  Nonetheless, the MSNBC weekend host didn’t speak in confidence to viewers the obvious battle of curiosity earlier than or after the interview. Neither did he disclose the donations to his bosses on the community, in line with the Free Beacon.
“Nobody’s shocked that anyone at MSNBC was rooting for Harris. This seems like one other stage of nonsense. Like, you are kidding me, proper? That is bizarre,” the present MSNBC worker reacted to Fox Information Digital. “Harris may have given Al Sharpton an interview, and it will have gone the identical manner. However what are you paying for?… There is no manner that this may’t appear bizarre.”
MSNBC WAS ‘UNAWARE’ HARRIS CAMPAIGN. GAVE $500K TO AL SHARPTON’S GROUP AHEAD OF FRIENDLY INTERVIEW
MSNBC reportedly mentioned it was “unaware” that Vice President Kamala Harris’ marketing campaign paid $500,000 to Rev. Al Sharpton’s Nationwide Motion Community nonprofit. (MSNBC screenshot)
“All people is aware of who Al Sharpton is… however this seems like a bridge too far. A giant bridge too far… This isn’t touchdown nicely,” they continued. “This has a little bit of a unclean really feel to it… These items occur they usually do not bounce round MSNBC all that a lot. Like folks simply do not care. This one feels, I would say, there is a deeper disappointment. There is a sense of like, ugh, we do not want this. This feels type of grifty and gross.”
The insider says everybody at MSNBC is aware of Sharpton is given a “huge berth” and that he is “not held to the identical journalistic commonplace” as others at MSNBC since he is much more identified exterior the community for his high-profile political and social activism. That mentioned, the controversy reeks of a “pay-to-play” scheme.Â
“There’s a sense among the many folks I’ve spoken to that this seems like one thing incorrect and that one thing ought to be achieved about it,” the MSNBC worker mentioned. “I do not know what that one thing is… That is some huge cash! That is not a small matter… It simply would not sit nicely with folks.”
KAMALA HARRIS INTERVIEWERS RECEIVED LARGE CAMPAIGN DONATIONS TO THEIR GROUPS AHEAD OF SIT-DOWNS
One among Rev. Al Sharpton’s MSNBC colleagues mentioned his “pay to play” controversy has been “ricocheting across the halls” of the community. (Erika Goldring/Getty Photographs FOR ESSENCE)
They, nonetheless, forged doubt that Sharpton will face any penalties, telling Fox Information Digital “Usually talking, folks do issues they usually type of get away with them at MSNBC, I imply, aside from within the Me Too period.”Â
“I do not care whether or not anyone does one thing to Al. I am extra keen on the place does this match into who we’re,” the MSNBC insider mentioned. “How does this s— occur? How does half one million {dollars} change arms?…  How are you going to probably assume you are holding anyone to account in an interview after they donate cash to you? We’re advised to not take tickets to a ballgame!”Â
“It is obtained an actual bulls— really feel to it. Individuals who like Al and respect him and perceive what his worth is… it ranges from disappointment to disgust. Not a complete ton of shock, I’ll inform you that,” they continued. “There are some organizational rules- I perceive he has completely different guidelines, however they can not be that, that you just donate cash and then you definately get an interview. That may’t be acceptable… I feel a three-year-old would see a possible battle on this.”Â
MSNBC’S FUTURE A ‘BIG CONCERN’ FOR STAFFERS AS COMCAST MOVES TO SEPARATE LIBERAL NETWORK FROM NBCUNIVERSAL
The MSNBC insider urged the community will not maintain Sharpton accountable, saying “folks do issues they usually type of get away with them at MSNBC.” (Kim Kulish/Corbis by way of Getty Photographs)
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The MSNBC staffer was stunned by the community being caught flat-footed by the controversy.Â
“For MSNBC to start out by saying they weren’t conscious of otto begin with, like, wow. That is one thing… All the things about this stinks,” they mentioned. “Like, why did the marketing campaign not assume that this may come out and be a very unhealthy search for them? I imply, if Kamala Harris had develop into president, it would be a scandal!… You are not gonna sway my opinion for tickets to a ballgame however for half one million {dollars}? You may!”Â
“That type of cash shouldn’t be altering arms to people who find themselves cosplaying being a journalist. Perhaps that is not a good time period as a result of I do not know, is he a journalist? I do not know. However that simply feels a bit bit like pay to play and it would not really feel proper In a company that we’re all nonetheless a part of. I perceive that not everyone seems to be held to the identical commonplace, however there ought to be a set of frequent guidelines. And my understanding of that is that this may be breaking a rule… it seems like I could not get away with that,” the worker added.Â
MSNBC didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.Â
Fox Information’ Brian Flood contributed to this report.Â
