SEEKS HELP FROM CONYERS

' We will never be silenced or intimidated by political zealots in law enforcement or journalism who clearly operate on agendas rather than facts.'

-Rev. Al Sharpton

June 20, 2008

It's the investigators that need investigating, a defiant Rev. Al Sharpton said yesterday in the face of the widening federal probe into his finances.

With the IRS and the US Attorney's Office breathing down his neck, Sharpton's civil-rights organization is appealing to Congress to launch its own investigation into the federal authorities.

"This is harassment and manipulation," Sharpton told The Post in response to news that some of his most generous corporate donors, including beer giant Anheuser-Busch, were slapped with subpoenas concerning their gifts to the National Action Network.

Sharpton reached out to Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who has already subpoenaed former top Bush adviser Karl Rove over possible politicization of the Justice Department.

"We are mindful of the clear political motivation of the Justice Department and IRS under the present administration," Sharpton said in a statement. "In fact, nine United States attorneys have had to resign under the question of whether they were targeting people for political reasons."

In a letter provided to The Post, Charlie King, acting national director of NAN, wrote Conyers to say that the recent subpoenas are "aimed at undermining the effectiveness of the National Action Network."

The letter makes a "formal request" for an investigation "where the IRS is being utilized for political purposes against civil-rights organizations."

Asked about Sharpton's allegations, a spokeswoman for Benton Campbell - the US attorney overseeing the investigation - said he would have no comment.

News of the subpoenas were first reported in The Post yesterday after an exclusive story Sunday chronicled how Sharpton simultaneously solicited donations from corporations while threatening them with protests or boycotts.

Sharpton said he has nothing to hide.

"We will never be silenced or intimidated by political zealots in law enforcement or journalism who clearly operate on agendas rather than facts, and we welcome the IRS, New York Post, or any other entity to look into our relationships with corporations," he said.

Later, in an interview on Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor," Sharpton noted that NAN has received donations from may corporations, including News Corp., which owns FNC and The Post.

cbennett@nypost.com

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