New York, NY - The Reverand Al. Sharpton is threatening to sue the City of New York after allegations the New York City Police Department planted spies inside the Rev's National Action Network headquarters in Harlem.

According to Huffington Post blogger, the NYPD also has allegedly tried in the past to discredit Sharpton by spreading rumors that he is gay.

In the post, Len Levitt, a veteran police reporter and author, says an NYPD informant was inserted inside NAN headquarters to gather information about any large-scale protests being planned in response to the acquittal of police officers involved in the killing of Sean Bell, an unarmed black man who was killed just hours before his wedding.

The confidential informant attended a NAN meeting on May 3, 2008, and reported back to the NYPD's Intelligence Division, according to information that Levitt said he obtained from a police document that was marked "secret."

According to Paul J. Browne, NYPD's head spokesman, the intelligence unit was in fact involved in intelligence gathering inside the National Action Network headquarters during that meeting.

But, Browne said, they weren't after any dirt on Sharpton or his organization.

"Neither the Rev. Sharpton nor the National Action Network, but a separate individual who was present was the subject of the NYPD Intelligence Division's interest at the May 3, 2008 meeting in question," Browne said in an email to The Huffington Post.

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