MSNBC claims it was 'unaware' Al Sharpton's nonprofit received $500,000 from Harris campaign before soft interview

NEW YORK - Whatever credibility NBC News subsidiary MSNBC had as a news organization has been irretrievably damaged after it was revealed that race hustler and MSNBC “news” host Al Sharpton’s nonprofit received $500,000 from the Kamala Harris campaign after he conducted what can only be described as a “softball” interview with the failed Democratic presidential candidate. Now, the Washington Free Beacon reports that MSNBC was “unaware” of the quid pro quo contributions to Sharpton’s organization. 

The contribution to the National Action Network (NAN) came shortly before Harris sat down with Sharpton. An MSNBC spokesman told the Free Beacon that the network was “unaware” of the transaction. 

The spokesman, however, wouldn’t tell the outlet if the network would take any action against Sharpton for the donation that appears to violate network policy. If he does not, it would seem to contradict previous actions the network took against hosts such as Joe Scarborough, who was publicly rebuked for failing to disclose political donations he made. 

The Free Beacon reported that the Harris campaign made two separate donations to NAN, one $250,000 contribution on Sept. 5 and the second on Oct. 1, just weeks before Sharpton conducted a flattering interview with Harris. 

According to an MSNBC spokesman, Sharpton did not disclose the donation during the segment and did not inform network officials. 

“MSNBC was unaware of the donations made to the National Action Network,” the spokesman said. He declined to say if the network would take any action against Sharpton, claiming it does not comment on “personnel matters.” 

In the case of Scarborough, he was suspended in 2010 by then-MSNBC president Phil Griffin over $4,000 in political contributions he made years before, including to Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). The same year, Griffin suspended then-MSNBC host Keith Olbermann over donations made to Democratic campaigns, writing in a statement that “it is critical that we enforce our standards and policies.” 

At that time, MSNBC prohibited political donations from hosts to candidates; however, a network spokesman refused to say if that policy had changed. 

In 2010, the policy stated, “Anyone working for NBC News who takes part in civic or other outside activities may find that these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist because they may create the appearance of a conflict of interest.”  Continuing, the policy said, “Such activities may include participation in or contributions to political campaigns or groups that espouse controversial positions. You should report any such potential conflicts in advance to, and obtain prior approval of, the president of NBC News or his designee.” 

It’s clear that Sharpton’s interview rose to the level of participation in a political campaign, and the receipt of such a significant contribution from the Harris campaign “violate basic journalistic ethics guidelines regarding financial relationships with sources or interview subjects,” the Free Beacon wrote. 

“This kind of entanglement harms the credibility of the journalist, the news organization, and journalism overall, and credibility is difficult to restore,” the Society of Professional Journalists told the Free Beacon. “While Sharpton may not consider himself a journalist, many viewers do.” 

That, of course, is subject to interpretation. 

In the weeks after Trump’s election to a second term, MSNBC’s ratings have plummeted, leading some to believe the company will undergo significant changes. Earlier this month, Comcast, MSNBC’s owner, announced it was spinning off its cable networks. According to the New York Post, MSNBC president Rashida Jones told “panicked” network employees that “change is always complicated.” 

Jones has close ties to Sharpton and NAN and succeeded Griffin in 2021. The Free Beacon reported that Jones has twice received the group’s “Chairman’s Award,” and she spoke alongside Sharpton at a National Action Network event the day before one of the Harris campaign donations arrived. 

Sharpton, a long-time race-hustling anti-Semite, founded the National Action Network in 1991, the same year he helped organize and incite anti-Semitic Crown Heights riots in Brooklyn. He has long been accused of using the nonprofit to pad his wallet and enact influence. There is rarely an incident where race was involved where he doesn’t push anti-white, anti-police rhetoric and play the race card. 

In 2015, billionaire black businessman Byron Alen sued Comcast, Sharpton, and other civil rights groups, claiming Comcast had entered into “sham diversity agreements” with Sharpton and National Action Network, the Washington Post reported at the time. Those agreements came in exchange for $3.8 million in donations to the National Action Network. Allen said at the time that Sharpton “has a business model and track record of obtaining payments from corporate entities in exchange for his support.” 

The Free Beacon reached out to the National Action Network, which paid Sharpton $650,000 in 2021 while spending nearly $1 million on private jets and limousine services ostensibly used by Sharpton. The nonprofit did not respond. 

Sharpton also makes an estimated equal pay at MSNBC, where he has worked since 2011. Estimates are he earns between the high six figures and low seven figures at the network, which is about six or seven figures too high.