Rev. Al Sharpton on Thursday snapped at a reporter for asking whether Democrats running for the White House in 2020 jumped to conclusions about the alleged hate-fueled attack on “Empire” star Jussie Smollett, which police now think was a hoax.
Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey, among others, were quick to condemn the two masked white men who Smollett claimed beat him, wrapped a rope around his neck, poured bleach on him, and yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him. Smollett’s story eventually unraveled, but when asked about it on Thursday, Sharpton said President Trump was also fooled.
“Well, I think your list is limited. I think many came out, including President Trump. Let’s not sugarcoat who came out. Donald Trump came out and said it was horrible,” Sharpton told a journalist Thursday when asked about Harris and Booker’s response to Smollett.
“So why are you only asking me about Booker and her? Are we having segregated selection here? A lot of people came out,” Sharpton said.
[Related: CNN berates Kamala Harris, Cory Booker for jumping to conclusions on Jussie Smollett]
Sharpton made the comments during a press conference held outside Sylvia’s Restaurant in Harlem, N.Y., after dining with Harris. The liberal civil rights activist drew parallels between the former California attorney general and former President Barack Obama, with whom he shared a meal with at Sylvia’s before Obama won the 2008 Democratic primary.
“I showed her the picture [of he and Obama eating together], and ironically they ate the same thing,” Sharpton said, referring to Harris’ order of chicken and waffles. “And clearly, a lot of people that came [to see them lunch], the reaction shows that she has a lot of people like Barack Obama did.”
Sharpton said he and Harris discussed her criminal justice and economic inequality policies ahead of her appearance at his National Action Network’s annual convention in April, after which he may endorse a 2020 contender. The event will also be attended by Booker, as well as Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
