MSNBC has acknowledged its lack of awareness regarding Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign's substantial $500,000 contribution to Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network, a nonprofit organization, prior to a seemingly favorable interview with Harris conducted by Sharpton on the network.
The interview, which aired on October 20th, was characterized by its amicable tone and coincided with Harris' 60th birthday. During the conversation, Sharpton inquired about Harris' desired legacy, prompting her to express her aspiration to be remembered for championing the rights and dignity of the people. Sharpton drew a parallel between Harris and Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, who also launched a presidential bid in 1972.
Following Harris' defeat in the presidential election, Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings brought to light two $250,000 donations from the Harris campaign to Sharpton's nonprofit. These contributions were made in September and October. Notably, Sharpton did not disclose this financial connection to viewers either before or after the interview, raising concerns about transparency and potential conflicts of interest.
An MSNBC spokesperson, in response to inquiries from the Washington Free Beacon, confirmed the network's unawareness of the donations. Furthermore, the Free Beacon reported that Sharpton himself had not informed MSNBC executives about the contributions received by his nonprofit from the Harris campaign. MSNBC declined to comment on whether Sharpton would face any repercussions for this omission.
The Society of Professional Journalists criticized the situation, labeling it a "black eye" for both MSNBC and journalism as a whole. The incident adds to MSNBC's recent challenges, including declining viewership following the election and uncertainty surrounding the network's future due to Comcast's planned spin-off of its cable assets.
The Harris campaign's financial dealings with media figures extended beyond Sharpton. The New York Times reported that the campaign made a $350,000 payment to Nu Vision Media, a company headed by journalist Roland Martin, who also interviewed Harris. Martin characterized the payment as an advertising expense. Additionally, the campaign made two $500,000 payments to Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions, ostensibly for production costs associated with a town hall event and a subsequent rally.
These revelations raise questions about the financial relationships between political campaigns and media organizations, and the potential impact on journalistic integrity and transparency.
