Wyclef Says His Run for Haitian President Is Over

The Wyclef Jean presidency campaign saga has now officially ended before it really got started in any meaningful way. While the former Fugee tried to keep hope alive by claiming he was filing a legal appeal to the Haitian election board, who barred his candidacy last week, Clef has decided to fold his cards and move on. It's an appropriate move. According to the election board, Jean had absolutely zero chance of an overturn.

"After careful consideration and much soul-searching, I have made the decision to contest Haiti's board of election's pronouncement stating that I am ineligible to run for the presidency of the country," Jean said via written statement.

Wyclef has blamed the electoral council for corruption and tricky tactics. He has gone back-and-forth between Haiti and the United States throughout his entire life, but they essentially came to their decision because he had not lived in Haiti for five consecutive years prior to the election. Clef has since realized the legal challenge would do little good. Haiti's election rules are set in stone, unwavering and nearly impossible to contest -- even when you have lawyers of Clef's ilk.

"There is absolutely no possibility for Wyclef Jean to be added to the list of candidates approved to run in the next presidential elections," official Samuel Pierre told Reuters. "So it's over."