From 2014

Rev. Al Sharpton is a former paid FBI informant: report

An explosive new report by The Smoking Gun claims that the Rev. Al Sharpton is a former paid FBI informant.

The report published Monday claims that Mr. Sharpton regularly interacted with members of four of New York City’s five organized crime families, specifically leaders of the Genovese family, and he secretly recorded their conversations.

After the news came to light, Mr. Sharpton admitted helping law enforcement officials by keeping tabs on Mafia contacts in the 1980s.

“I was not and am not a rat, because I was not with the rats,” Newsday quoted Mr. Sharpton as telling reporters. “I am a cat. I chase rats.”

Mr. Sharpton indicated he would cooperate again if he felt his life was threatened.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/7/rev-al-sharpton-former-paid-fbi-informant-report/