The growing scandal plaguing MSNBC host Reverend Al Sharpton is “ricocheting around the halls” of 30 Rock with his colleagues, and the pastor calls it “a bridge too far.” was found out on Fox News Digital.
MSNBC revealed Tuesday that Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign paid Sharpton's nonprofit National Action Network $500,000 ahead of a friendly interview with the Democratic candidate in the weeks before the election. “I didn't know,” he said.
An MSNBC spokesperson said, “MSNBC was not aware of any donations to the National Action Network.'' washington free beaconwhich first broke the story.
Harris had a friendly interview on October 20 with Sharpton, who has openly supported Harris and the Democratic Party. After Harris lost to President-elect Donald Trump, FEC submissions The Harris campaign revealed it made two $250,000 donations to Sharpton's nonprofit organization in September and October.
However, the MSNBC weekend host did not disclose to viewers the apparent conflict of interest before or after the interview. According to the Free Beacon, he also did not disclose the donations to his superiors at the network.
“Nobody would be surprised if someone at MSNBC was rooting for Harris. This feels like another level of nonsense. Are you kidding? This is weird,” a current MSNBC employee told Fox News Digital. I reacted. “Harris could have interviewed Al Sharpton and the result would have been the same. But what are you paying for? … There's no way this wouldn't seem strange.”
“We all know who Al Sharpton is…but this feels like a bridge too far. A big bridge too far…this isn't landing us well,” they continued. Ta. “There's a bit of a dirty vibe to this…These things happen, but they don't happen all that often on MSNBC. Like, people just don't care. This time, I can say there's a deeper disappointment.” There's a sense of, “Oh, I don't need this.” I feel like this is tragic and terrible in a way. ”
Officials at MSNBC said Sharpton was given a “wide open space” and that other people at MSNBC were given a “broader space” because he has a much higher profile outside the network as a political and social activist. and said they all know they “don't have the same journalistic standards.” That said, there is a whiff of a “pay-to-play” approach to this debate.
“There's a sense among the people I've talked to that there's something wrong with this and that something should be done about it,” the MSNBC employee said. “I don't know what it is…but it's a lot of money! It's not a small problem…it just doesn't resonate with people.”
But they cast doubt on whether Mr. Sharpton would face any consequences, saying, “Generally speaking, on MSNBC, outside of the Me Too era, people do things, and they manage to do it somehow.” It's something you can get away with,” he said.
“I don't care what anyone does to Al. I'm more interested in where this fits within ourselves,” the MSNBC source said. “How does something like this — happen?'' How does $500,000 end up in your hands?… When someone gives you money, you hold them accountable in an interview. How can you think? We are being told not to take tickets to the ball game! ”
“There's real bullshit, feel it. People who like Al and respect him and understand his value…it ranges from disappointment to disgust.
“It’s not that surprising, let me tell you that,” they continued. “There are some rules in the organization. I understand he has different rules, but it's not like if you donate money you get an interview. That's not acceptable…A 3-year-old child I think I see a potential conflict in this.”
MSNBC staffers were surprised at how badly the station was treated in this controversy.
“I think it's amazing that MSNBC didn't know about it in the first place. It's something…everything about this stinks,” they said.
“For example, why didn't the campaign think this would be made public and have very bad consequences for them? I mean, if Kamala Harris became president, it would be a scandal!… The $500,000 ball game. Are you planning on swaying my opinion for tickets to the game? Maybe you are!”
“That kind of money shouldn't be going to people who cosplay as journalists. Maybe that's not a fair word because I don't know, but is he a journalist? I don't know.
“But it's like paying to play and I don't feel it's appropriate in an organization that we're all still a part of. I understand that not everyone is held to the same standards. However, a common set of rules is required.
“My understanding is that this is against the rules…I feel like there's no getting away with it,” the employee added.
MSNBC did not immediately respond to FOX News Digital's request for comment.
Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.
