Angry Sharpton Denounces Federal Investigation

By Scott Weinberger
wcbstv.com
December 13, 2007

NEW YORK (CBS) ― The Reverend Al Sharpton is once again under federal investigation.

Sharpton staffers were told to appear before a grand jury the day after Christmas and provide investigators with the reverend's financial records.

A fired-up Sharpton came out swinging Thursday after finding out that his non-profit National Action Network -- and possibly he himself -- is being investigated.

Sources tell CBS 2 HD federal tax agents are looking into the possibility the National Action Network co-mingled funds with Sharpton's presidential 2004 campaign.

"They have to do their job, and I have to do mine, but come on fellas," a defiant Sharpton said Thursday.

On Wednesday morning agents served almost a dozen subpoenas to the Reverend's current and former aides.

Sharpton spokeswoman Rachel Noerdlinger called the early morning visit by federal agents excessive.

"It's outrageous to think that we have any financial documents in this case," Noerdlinger said.

"I'm a single mother and to have my door banged on at 6:30 a.m. in the morning by complete strangers was alarming to both my son and me," she added. "It was an apparent scare tactic that will only back fire."

CBS 2 HD asked the former presidential candidate if he felt this was a witch hunt.

"Let's take your question, Scott," Sharpton said. "Any other candidate for president, if there is a question on matching funds and all there been on piling money, they are fined. With me it's a criminal investigation, you don't think people understand that?"

There is no word on when the grand jury will rule, or even if Sharpton or his staff will be asked to testify.

"Most of my staff has been questioned by every investigator in the world," he said. "They have never not given documents. They have never not answered questions."

Sharpton agreed in 2005 to repay the government $100,000, plus interest, for taxpayer money he received during his failed effort to win the Democratic presidential nomination the year before, though he denied wrongdoing.

The Federal Election Commission had determined that he spent more of his own money on the campaign than the qualifications for federal matching funds allow.

In 1993, Sharpton pleaded guilty to not filing a state income tax return in 1986.

Sharpton is calling this investigation an act of retribution on the Justice Department's part. He claims the agency is going after him because of the public demonstrations he's led accusing them of being too slow to prosecute hate crimes.