Rev Al Sharpton Demands AG Ford Investigate Prominent GOP Donor

The Rev. Al Sharpton has asked Attorney General Aaron Ford to investigate Don Ahern, the former CEO of Ahern Rentals Inc. In a letter to Ford, Sharpton claims Ahern displayed “an alarming pattern” of racism and violence as CEO of the company. In 2022, Ahern’s company was acquired by United Rentals for $2 billion.

“In this highly charged climate in which Black and other marginalized communities are at threat of violent actions, it is imperative we investigate and hold accountable those who conduct themselves as Ahern has,” Sharpton wrote to Ford. Sharpton references additional sworn statements made during litigation against Ahern, including one alleging the CEO once “called a truck driver the ‘n-word’ and pulled a gun on him.”

The Hill first reported on Sharpton’s latest shake down last month, prior to President Trump’s stop in Las Vegas for a fundraiser Ahern was hosting for the Trump campaign. Ahern has been a vocal supporter and generous financial donor to republican candidates in Nevada, including John Lee who is running against Rep. Steven Horsford in Congressional District 4.

As reported by The Hill:

In 2022, a former employee of Ahern Rentals, Mark Townsend, filed a lawsuit alleging he witnessed Ahern repeatedly make racist comments in the workplace. He wrote in the suit that he had Ahern say, “We don’t like hiring n‑‑‑‑‑‑. They are dumb. They are just born that way.”

Sworn testimony also alleges that Ahern said, “If it was up to me, I would get rid of all the n‑‑‑‑‑‑, Mexicans, and women, because they’re useless.”

Sharpton compared Ahern to Bull Connor, the former commissioner of public safety for the city of Birmingham, Ala., who was a staunch segregationist.

But Sharpton acknowledged that investigating Ahern, who has been a longtime supporter of Trump, could draw backlash for Ford.

It is rumored that Ford has his eye on running against Republican Governor Joe Lombardo in 2026.

“Your role as one of the nation’s few Black Attorneys General will only compound such a daunting task, but the sworn statements of these courageous employees should also compel you to rise above that and do what is right for those either intimidated by or denied an opportunity due to Ahern’s warped view of the world,” Sharpton wrote.

“The Civil Rights community will stand behind you against those attacks. I make this inquiry not for political reasons, but moral ones. This is an urgent matter as Ahern’s actions have no place in any work environment, let alone any other facet of our society. Nevada must send a message that it does not stand for racism, sexism, or any other discriminatory behavior – nor should any other state in this union.”

While Sharpton claims he has moral reasons to reincarnate a lawsuit that was settled out of court, history shows that Sharpton is no stranger to incendiary, homophobic and racially-charged public comments to sow public unrest and political division.

Sharpton is credited with saying, “If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house,” prior to the deadly 1991 Crown Heights riots. Sharpton marched with a protestor who held a sign that read, “The White Man is The Devil.” The three-day riot resulted in numerous injuries as well as the looting, burning and destruction of stores, homes and cars owned by Orthodox Jews in the area.

In March 2000, his role in the riots and his history of incendiary rhetoric compelled a government resolution “Condemning the racist and anti-Semitic views of the Reverend Al Sharpton.” The resolution (see below) was submitted by Republican representative Joe Scarborough, who is now a MSNBC colleague of Sharpton.

A person close to the Ahern Family told The Globe, “Sharpton is known to be a race baiter. He simply hates the fact that Don [Ahern] is a Republican and a Trump supporter. A large percentage of his employees are minorities, so if he is a racist, he is doing a bad job at it.”