Teleprompter and Kim Kardashian expert Rev. Al Sharpton is not that great at paying his bills, as a New York Times report details.
The Times uncovered “more than $4.5 million in current state and federal tax liens against him and his for-profit businesses. “
“His National Action Network appears to have been sustained for years by not paying federal payroll taxes on its employees,” the report continues. He “repeatedly” did not pay landlords and hotels, but also “traveled first class and collected a sizable salary.”
The report goes on to detail past known financial troubles and questionable practices from Sharpton, including his non-profit lending him money for his daughter’s tuition, and a messy defamation lawsuit for which Sharpton’s friends had to pay off his $65,000 judgment.
The Times characterizes sloppy paperwork as a “trademark” of his organization. In 2006, it underpaid its federal taxes by nearly $1.9 million. And a recent Treasury assessment of non-profits suggests it is one of the most “delinquent” in the country:
Sharpton personally has over $3 million in federal tax liens, and $777,657 of state tax liens.
Sharpton’s response?
“You can say I’m not a great administrator,” he told the Times. “You can’t say that I’m not committed.”
The MSNBC host says he’s paying off his debts, and hopes to be squared away soon thanks to recent donations, including those collected from his 60th birthday party at which he raised $1 million.
MSNBC has not commented on the report.
Read the full story here.
