Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

speakup

NEW YORK - Federal prosecutors in the United States are investigating Rev. Al Sharpton over his taxes.

Government records obtained by The Associated Press indicate the civil-rights leader and his business entities owe nearly $1.5 million in overdue taxes and associated penalties.

Sharpton has emerged as one of the most prominent civil rights leaders in the U.S., and he calls the investigation government "retaliation."

He tells the AP that it's an attempt to intimidate him and his colleagues.

Over the past year, Sharpton's lawyers and the staff of his nonprofit group, the National Action Network, have been negotiating with the federal government over the size of his debt. They dispute the government's figure.

The group has also been trying to pay off tens of thousands of dollars it owes for failing to properly maintain workers compensation and unemployment insurance.