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The New York Times checked up today on the financial situation of the Reverend Al Sharpton, New York and America's most public private citizen. The setup is about how Sharpton has gone from outsider to insider, track suits to tailored suits, "from the streets to the suites," in his words, etc. Then we learnwell, "learn" isn't exactly the right word, given how well-documented all of Sharpton's aspects have been through the years.

But in case you were wondering how "grifter" was doing relative to "inspiration" or "pundit" or "bully" or "moral authority" or "buffoon" or "orator" or "TV personality" among the ever-evolving roster of multitudes that Sharpton contains:

Mr. Sharpton has regularly sidestepped the sorts of obligations most people see as inevitable, like taxes, rent and other bills. Records reviewed by The New York Times show more than $4.5 million in current state and federal tax liens against him and his for-profit businesses. And though he said in recent interviews that he was paying both down, his balance with the state, at least, has actually grown in recent years. His National Action Network appears to have been sustained for years by not paying federal payroll taxes on its employees.

With the tax liability outstanding, Mr. Sharpton traveled first class and collected a sizable salary, the kind of practice by nonprofit groups that the United States Treasury's inspector general for tax administration recently characterized as "abusive," or "potentially criminal" if the failure to turn over or collect taxes is willful.

Al Sharpton is a respected political figure and a toxic demagogue and a hopeless serial deadbeat. His National Action Network is a mess. He will almost certainly be front and center articulating the suffering of America's black underclass if the Ferguson grand jury, as expected, decides the shooting of Michael Brown was acceptable law enforcement. He will travel to and from making those morally and sociologically valid remarks in luxury, probably unpaid-for luxury.

On it goes. The section titles in the Times article are, in order, "Often Strident Language," "A Move Into the Mainstream," and "Sued by His Landlord."

The desire to wrap it all upto explain how the ongoing happening that is Al Sharpton has happenedis so strong, the Times found itself wandering into a strange fog of implication in the middle of its solid numbers:

But the recent troubles of Rachel Noerdlinger, Mr. Sharpton's closest aide for many years and more recently a top official in the de Blasio administration, served as a reminder of Mr. Sharpton's fraught history and how easily it can spill over into the corridors of power in which he now travels.

Ms. Noerdlinger took a leave of absence from her post on Monday, after the arrest of her teenage son on trespassing charges. The decision capped weeks of scrutiny after news accounts revealed that she had failed to disclose a live-in boyfriend with an extensive criminal record on a background questionnaire when she became the top adviser to Mr. de Blasio's wife, Chirlane McCray. The omission was unrelated to Mr. Sharpton, but it is the kind of paperwork oversight that has been a trademark of his nonprofit, where Ms. Noerdlinger built her career.

Read the rest here:
Al Sharpton's Finances Are, as Ever, Supremely Sketchy

NY Times: Al Sharpton Delinquent on $4.5M in Tax Payments Rev. says it's 'the most bogus story in the world' - Issue to be address at press conference today

Nov 18, 14 by EurPublisher Leave a comment

*Being an ally to President Obama hasnt prevented Rev. Al Sharpton from getting sanctioned by the IRS. It seems Sharpton and his various profit and nonprofit organizations owe millions of dollars in back taxes.

Heres what the New York Times is reporting as a result of an investigation it did on Sharptons finances.

1. He owes more than $4.5 million in current state and federal taxes on his personal income and his for-profit companies, Raw Talent and Revals Communications. Sharpton has more than $3 million in personal federal tax liens and state tax liens of $777,657. Raw Talent owes a combined $717,329 on state and federal tax liens.

2. His nonprofit National Action Network (NAN) also failed to pay federal payroll taxes. NANs tax liability grew from $900,000 in 2003 to nearly $1.9 million by 2006. It also took on a questionable role during Sharptons 2004 run for the presidency, which may have violated FEC regulations.

However, in an interview with FoxNews.com, the 60-year-old civil rights leader and MSNBC host of Politics Nation said he has in place an agreement with the government to repay his personal and business-related taxes and that his payments are on time.

We have a signed agreement, he said. And what is in the agreement has been kept. Weve been up to date. This is the most bogus story in the world.

He also made clear that the roughly $1 million raised at New York event to celebrate his 60th birthday, on which The Times reported, will go toward repaying his debts.

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NY Times: Al Sharpton Delinquent on $4.5M in Tax Payments

Al Sharpton owes millions in state and federal liens, according to a New York Times report out today about the activist and MSNBC hosts finances.

Sharpton owes more than $4.5 million and has regularly sidestepped his financial obligations, the report finds. His advocacy group National Action Network has not paid federal payroll taxes for years, and has repeatedly failed to pay money owed for travel and living arrangements.

The report tracks not just Sharptons financial history, but its relationship to Sharptons rise from outsider activist to influential insider. And it also notes that the revenue from Sharptons group has spiked in recent years, coming in from plenty of corporate sponsors.

The Times report even goes so far as to note that what Sharpton did is characterized by the Treasury inspector general as abusive, or potentially criminal if the failure to turn over or collect taxes is willful.

You can read the full report here.

[image via screengrab]

Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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NY Times Report: Al Sharpton Owes More than $4 Million in Taxes

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A New York Times report says Rev. Al Sharpton has $4.5 million in tax liens on him and his for-profit company that hes in the process of paying down, just one of a few financial troubles that he and his civil rights organization the National Action Network (NAN) suffer from. NAN, the paper says, has been kept afloat by failing to pay payroll taxes. Together, both he and the organization have in the past failed to pay basic expenses like rent and fees to travel agencies. Moreover, the finances of Rev. Sharpton and NAN are tied so closely that he has used the group to pay personal bills, like his daughters school tuition.

Rev. Sharpton has been forthright about the financial troubles, saying that hes paying them. And his new elevated status hes considered a friend and advisor to President Obama, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and others along with the visibility of an MSNBC program is driving donations to the NAN and could potentially lead to other opportunities. He recently celebrated his 60th birthday with a fancy Four Seasons party where the Mayor and Gov. Andrew Cuomo were among the guests. The party, also a fundraiser for NAN, was a sponsored event.

As for NAN, it has served as a resource for Rev. Al (money from the organization helped pay for his run for president a few years back) but experienced a sharp decline in funds and was on the hook for millions in taxes and other expenses. At one point,it kept the doors open through money from Rev. Al, who started to see his fortunes turn as he became more involved with the media. The Treasury Department has actually classified some of the practices in place as abusive and theTimes says the NAN is one of the most delinquent nonprofits in the country.

The article gives a detailed history of Rev. Sharptons run ins with the legal system and dealings that are more than a little shady. And while he has said publicly that he has few assets, he still travels and lives well by all accounts.

The birthday party raised $1 million, which should help pay some of the back debts, but theres still more to do. And just today, Rev. Al tweeted the results of a Quinnipiac poll that finds two-thirds of Black consider him the most important Black leader in New York City. As long as he continues to keep close ties with sponsors and power players, he should be able to keep the money coming in.

Read more from the original source:
NY Times Report: Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network Have Big Financial Troubles

Just 40 percent of voters citywide have a favorable opinion ofRev. Al Sharpton, according to a new Quinnipiac University Poll. But hewasnt worried about those numbers.

Tobe honest with you, I think that after the last six weeks of my name every day beingconnectedto Rachel [Noerdlinger] and to Sandy Rubenstein, I thoughtit would be lower than that, Mr. Sharpton told the Observer today in a brief telephone interview.

Mr. Sharptons National Action Network blasted out a press release crowingaboutthe poll focusingnot about hisnegative favorability rating, but instead on his beingnamed the most important black leader in the city and his high marks among black voters.

And eventhough 45 percent of voters overall dontlike him, Mr. Sharpton pointed out by phone that his approval rating was mostly unchanged since the last poll in August, despite plenty of less-than-prime press.

Hisformer spokeswoman, Ms. Noerdlinger, hasbeen the subject ofconstant negativeheadlines for weeks. And Mr. Rubenstein, a prominent attorney, was accused or raping a woman after Mr. Sharptons birthday party.

I think the real storyhere is that were talking about maybe a few pointsdropped from the last one, and this barrage of things that Ihad nothing to do with had my name attached to them, Mr. Sharpton said.

While he performed poorly with white voters, some69 percent of black voters view him positively, according to the poll. And when asked to name the citys top black leader, 17 percent of those polled named Mr. Sharpton more thanPresident Barack Obama or Congressman Charles Rangel. Among black voters, 24 percent named him the most important leader.

That, Mr. Sharptonsaid, should quiet the critics who say Mayor Bill de Blasio should not be turning to him for advice.

It makes all my criticshave to explain if his numbers are thathigh among blacks, if blacks say overwhelmingly that hes the most importantblackleader in the city, then why are you questioning why the mayor and the president speak to him? Mr. Sharpton asked.

Police unions in particular have slammed Mr. de Blasios relationship with Mr. Sharpton characterizing him as anti-police and expressing anger after Mr. Sharpton was seated at a table with Police Commissioner Bill Bratton following the death of Eric Garner in NYPD custody. Criticshave griped the move gave Mr. Sharpton too much credibility but Mr. Sharpton said that credibility was what got him invited.

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Despite Negative Numbers, Sharpton Touts Quinnipiac Poll Results