Wyclef Jean Tearfully Defends His “Yele” Haitian Aid Foundation

Philanthropist/musician Wyclef Jean held a press conference on Monday to defend himself and his Haitian aid foundation ‘Yele’ from accusations of misappropriation of funds donated to support the Haitian people.

The Smoking Gun had audited the books for the foundation, and uncovered evidence that made it look like Wyclef was enriching himself personally from the foundations donations.

These charges come at a time when Wyclef has been busy raising millions of dollars to aid the Haitian people during the terrible aftermath of last weeks catastrophic earthquake.

One of the charges cited that Yele Haiti “paid the performer and his business partner at least $410,000 for rent, production services, and Jean’s appearance at a benefit concert.”

”As a young N.G.O. (nongovernmental organization) … have we made mistakes before? Yes,” Jean said at a news conference in New York. “Did I ever use Yele money for personal benefits? Absolutely not.”

Wyclef Jean is due to join actor George Clooney on Friday for a commerical-free telethon called “Hope for Haiti, which will be broadcast by major U.S. networks.

Yele charity is dedicated to helping Haitians in need.

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Sources-

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/18/wyclef-jean-press-confere_n_427287.html

http://blogs.reuters.com/global/2010/01/18/haitian-hip-hop-artist-wyclef-jean-defends-his-charity/

http://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/how-wyclef-jeans-haiti-charity-spent-its-money/