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As Rev. Al Sharpton targets rap and hip-hop violence, and is investigating ways to curb the violence; he himself is plagued by investigations also.

The Rev. Al Sharpton is the subject of a federal criminal investigation unrelated to the Philadelphia corruption probe in which his name surfaced on wiretaps, according to a published report.

The Philadelphia Daily News, citing unnamed sources, reported yesterday that a prosecutor alluded to the investigation of Rev. Sharpton during a court hearing.

The paper said Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Zauzmer mentioned Sharpton, but then warned in open court, "Here we''re getting into a matter that involves another jurisdiction."

Zauzmer then briefed the judge in the case privately and the judge returned to say that no further information about Rev. Sharpton would be publicly disclosed, the paper said.

Rich Maneri, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney in Philadelphia, declined comment.

Robert Hardy, Rev. Sharpton's lawyer, immediately branded the story "hogwash."

"I don''t believe there is any active criminal investigation concerning him in any jurisdiction," said Hardy. "I think the reporter just misinterpreted or over-interpreted arguments made in court."

On Friday, Zauzmer actually cleared Sharpton of any wrongdoing in the Philadelphia corruption probe.

"To put it very simply, we were wrong," Zauzmer said of earlier allegations that Sharpton might have been part of a scheme to defraud New York City's pension funds.

Rev. Sharpton's voice turned up on federal wiretaps with that of the late Ronald A. White, a Democratic fund-raiser who was the target of a probe into whether Philadelphia city contracts were being traded for campaign contributions.

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