MSNBC reportedly was unaware that Kamala Harris’s campaign made two significant contributions to Al Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN), totaling $500,000, shortly before Sharpton conducted a favorable interview with Harris during her presidential campaign.

The contributions, made in September and October of 2024, have raised questions about the network’s ethics and its potential violation of its internal policies.

According to the Washington Free Beacon, the Harris campaign made a $250,000 donation to Sharpton’s nonprofit on September 5 and another $250,000 on October 1, just weeks before Sharpton’s soft interview with Harris, which was heavily criticized for its lack of scrutiny.

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During the interview, Sharpton did not disclose the contributions made by Harris’s campaign, nor did he inform MSNBC executives about the financial ties between his nonprofit and the Democratic nominee.

NEW: Kamala Harris’ campaign dished out $500k to Al Sharpton’s nonprofit just weeks before her big interview with him.

So… was the Harris campaign just one big money laundering scheme?

According to the Washington Free Beacon, the Harris campaign sent one $250k payment on… pic.twitter.com/L79LVVzmK1

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 12, 2024

An MSNBC spokesperson confirmed that the network was unaware of the donations but declined to comment on whether any action would be taken against Sharpton or the staff involved.

“MSNBC was unaware of the donations made to the National Action Network,” the spokesperson said, adding that the network does not comment on “personnel matters.”

MSNBC has faced scrutiny over similar ethical concerns in the past.

In 2010, the network suspended prominent host Joe Scarborough after it was revealed that he had made political contributions, including a $4,000 donation to Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL).

The network also suspended host Keith Olbermann for making donations to Democratic candidates.

At that time, MSNBC had a clear policy prohibiting political donations by its on-air talent, stating that such actions could create a conflict of interest and undermine the impartiality expected from journalists.

The network’s policy also noted that any civic or outside activities, such as political donations, must be disclosed in advance and approved by the president of NBC News or their designee.

However, it is unclear if this policy has been updated or remains in effect, as the network has not provided details about its current stance on political donations or conflicts of interest.

The undisclosed financial relationship between Sharpton’s National Action Network and the Harris campaign has raised significant concerns among journalists and media ethics experts.

The Society of Professional Journalists emphasized that such entanglements damage the credibility of both the individual journalist and the media organization.

“This kind of entanglement harms the credibility of the journalist, the news organization, and journalism overall, and credibility is difficult to restore,” the group stated.

“When TV news broadcasters do not report their conflicts of interest, or conduct their work in ways that run counter to ethical journalism, it builds distrust among their audiences and places a black eye on both their network and the profession.”

This controversy comes at a time when MSNBC is already facing significant challenges.

The network has experienced a decline in viewership since the 2024 presidential election, and Comcast, its parent company, recently announced that it would be spinning off its cable news channels. MSNBC President Rashida Jones, who has close ties to Sharpton and his National Action Network, has reportedly faced internal pressure to address these issues.

Sharpton, a long-time civil rights figure, has been criticized for his use of the nonprofit to wield influence and allegedly enrich himself.

In 2015, media mogul Byron Allen sued Comcast, Sharpton, and other civil rights groups, claiming that the company entered into “sham diversity agreements” with Sharpton’s organization in exchange for millions of dollars in donations.

Allen accused Sharpton of leveraging his support for corporate entities in exchange for financial gains.

National Action Network reportedly paid Sharpton approximately $650,000 in 2021.

The group has also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on private jet travel and limousine services, further raising questions about the nonprofit’s financial practices.

As of now, MSNBC has not taken any public action regarding the donation disclosures, leaving many to wonder if the network will address the apparent conflict of interest or continue to turn a blind eye to its own ethical standards.

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