AP/Julie Jacobson
The Rev. Al Sharpton.
For a full 45 minutes, the veteran civil rights leader and MSNBC host lambasted the story, which said he had $4.5 million in tax liens placed against him. Sharpton characterized the report as both inaccurate and politically motivated before making an abrupt exit from the event.
"The story is at best misleading and totally out of context," Sharpton said, charging the story was using outdated records.
He also argued his organization, National Action Network, was simply negotiating penalties with the federal government.
The Times report, which was written by Russ Buettner, also detailed Sharpton's history of controversial statements including comments about whites and Jews as well as his long history of money woes.
"Problems keeping his personal and professional affairs in order have threatened Mr. Sharpton's rise from the streets for decades," Buettner wrote. "In 1990, he was acquitted of felony charges that he stole $250,000 from his youth group. Then in 1993 he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for failing to file a state income tax return."
At his press conference, Sharpton dismissed the entire story as old news and said it was noteworthy the report emerged when two Democrats he's close to - President Barack Obama and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio - are in office.
"I think it's political. A lot of people don't like the fact that President Obama is the president. A lot of people don't like the fact that Bill de Blasio won for mayor. And they certainly don't like the fact that I'm still here and I ain't going nowhere ... I have not owed a dime in current taxes or in National Action Network taxes since President Obama or de Blasio has been in office," Sharpton said, pounding his own hand for emphasis.
Moments later, he turned and walked away from the podium.
"I'll see y'all," he told the reporters.