Al Sharpton’s interview scandal turns into newest in decades-long historical past of controversies haunting MSNBC host

MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton isn’t any stranger to controversy as revelations of what is been dubbed a “pay to play” scheme extends the lengthy shadow of scandals that observe him. 

Final week, MSNBC admitted 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 Oct. 20 interview with the Democratic nominee simply weeks earlier than the election. 

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 Washington Free Beacon, which broke the story. 

SHARPTON’S ‘PAY TO PLAY’ SCANDAL ‘RICOCHETING AROUND THE HALLS’ OF MSNBC, INSIDER SAYS: ‘CAN’T BE ACCEPTABLE’ 

MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton has a historical past of scandals and controversies far behind the most recent “pay for play” allegations. (Brian Stukes/Getty Pictures; Kim Kulish/Corbis by way of Getty Pictures; Screenshot/MSNBC)

Sharpton’s political stripes aren’t any secret as an open supporter of Harris and the Democratic Occasion, even talking on the Democratic Nationwide Conference in Chicago. However the six-figure transaction between his group and the Harris marketing campaign is a “bridge too far” amongst his MSNBC colleagues, in line with a community insider. 

Whereas it is unclear whether or not Sharpton will face any penalties for the blatant battle of curiosity, it marks the most recent scandal to face the outspoken activist. These are among the controversies he has been engulfed in over the many years. 

Tax troubles

Sharpton has constructed a popularity for taking part in quick and unfastened relating to his taxes. In 1993, he pleaded responsible for not submitting his 1986 tax return in alternate for having two felony expenses dropped. 

In 2008, it was revealed that Sharpton owed practically a staggering $1.5 million in again taxes. 

The New York Occasions outlined a few of his different monetary troubles over time. In 1990, he was acquitted of felony expenses after he was accused of stealing a whopping $250,000 from a youth group. Three years later, he pleaded responsible to a misdemeanor cost after not submitting a state revenue tax return. One in every of his for-profit companies, Uncooked Expertise, was additionally busted for not paying taxes for a number of years. 

“Information reviewed by The New York Occasions present greater than $4.5 million in present state and federal tax liens in opposition to him and his for-profit companies,” the Occasions reported in 2014. 

MSNBC WAS ‘UNAWARE’ HARRIS CAMPAIGN. GAVE $500K TO AL SHARPTON’S GROUP AHEAD OF FRIENDLY INTERVIEW

Selling the Tawana Brawley rape hoax

Regardless of his distinguished stint at MSNBC, maybe Sharpton is finest recognized for rallying behind the notorious rape hoaxer Tawana Brawley.

Brawley, a 15-year-old Black woman, alleged in 1987 that she was kidnapped and raped by a gaggle of White males after disappearing for 4 days from her New York residence. She had been lined in feces and racial slurs written throughout her physique. 

Sharpton was amongst her closest advisers and was her most vocal defender, fueling racial tensions throughout the nation within the course of. A grand jury finally discovered her claims had been false. 

Sharpton himself was sued for defamation by one in all people Brawley accused, who was awarded $65,000 in damages. Sharpton’s supporters ended up footing the invoice years later after he claimed he did not have the cash. 

Rev. Al Sharpton was the largest promoter of the Tawana Brawley rape hoax. (John Pedin/NY Each day Information Archive by way of Getty Pictures)

To today, Sharpton has no regrets for defending Brawley. 

“I’ve no proof that I used to be misled,” Sharpton mentioned in a January 2023 interview. “My place was that there was this allegation from this younger girl that was actually questionable conduct by some that she accused.”

Historical past of antisemitism 

The distinguished activist has a disturbing report of antisemitism over time.

In 1991, Sharpton defended New York Metropolis School Professor Leonard Jeffries, who sparked outrage together with his speech concentrating on “wealthy Jews” he mentioned financed the slave commerce and managed Hollywood, saying they “put collectively a system of destruction for Black folks.” He responded to the controversy by saying “”If the Jews need to get it on, inform them to pin their yarmulkes again and are available over to my home.”

KAMALA HARRIS INTERVIEWERS RECEIVED LARGE CAMPAIGN DONATIONS TO THEIR GROUPS AHEAD OF SIT-DOWNS

That very same yr, Sharpton fueled a lethal antisemitic mob in Crown Heights, Brooklyn after a Jewish man fatally caught a 7-year-old Black boy together with his automotive in a horrific accident. 

On the boy’s funeral, Sharpton mentioned “The world will inform us he was killed accidentally. Sure, it was a social accident. It’s an accident to permit an apartheid ambulance service in the course of Crown Heights… Speak about how Oppenheimer in South Africa sends diamonds straight to Tel Aviv and offers with the diamond retailers proper right here in Crown Heights.” His use of “diamond retailers” was referencing Jewish jewelers. He additionally led protests that included chants like “Kill the Jews!” and “No Justice, No Peace!”

The riots led to the deadly stabbing of rabbinical scholar Yankel Rosenbaum by a Black teen. 

Rev. Al Sharpton ignited racial tensions in Crown Heights concentrating on the Jewish neighborhood after a Black baby was fatally struck by a Jewish motorist. (Each day Information Archive by way of Getty Pictures)

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The incident was investigated and no expenses had been introduced. However after the Jewish man moved to Israel, Sharpton rushed to the Jewish State to hunt him down. In keeping with the New York Each day Information, a lady noticed Sharpton on the airport and informed him to “Go to hell” to which he replied “I’m in hell already. I’m in Israel.”

In 1995, Sharpton referred to a Jewish retailer proprietor in Harlem as a “White interloper” after the shop proprietor raised the lease of its Black subtenant after the shop proprietor’s personal lease was raised by the constructing’s proprietor, a Black Pentecostal church. Sharpton and his Nationwide Motion Community organized weeks-long protests that led to a capturing that killed seven folks and the Jewish retailer proprietor’s enterprise burned to the bottom. 

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