Following a recent revelation about Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign donating $500,000 to MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network, a coalition of Black churches has reversed its initial demand for Sharpton's suspension and investigation. The National Black Church Initiative, which previously criticized the donation as a "moral stain," now states that its earlier call for action was "inappropriate" and expresses regret for the "misstep."
The Washington Free Beacon initially reported the two $250,000 donations made in September and October, shortly before a perceived "friendly" interview between Sharpton and Harris. This sparked the initial outcry from the National Black Church Initiative, citing concerns about journalistic ethics. However, the coalition has since retracted its statement, claiming it was unaware of pre-existing agreements with Black organizations, including Sharpton's National Action Network, for non-partisan voter outreach initiatives. The coalition now acknowledges the importance of such efforts and states it found no evidence suggesting the donations were linked to endorsements or that MSNBC engaged in partisan political activities.
The Initiative also pointed out that Harris has appeared on Sharpton's show in the past. They have not responded to inquiries about their change in stance. Similarly, MSNBC, Sharpton, and the National Action Network have not commented on the matter. This incident contrasts with MSNBC's 2010 suspension of Joe Scarborough and Keith Olbermann for political donations. MSNBC previously stated it was unaware of the donations to Sharpton's organization but hasn't indicated whether Sharpton faced any internal repercussions.
