American rapper Boosie Badazz has initiated legal action against two political lobbyists after allegedly paying $600,000 (£440,000) for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump that never materialized. The 43-year-old artist, whose real name is Torence Hatch, faced sentencing for possessing a firearm as a felon and sought a pardon to clear his criminal record.
Alleged Pardon Deal
Boosie allegedly sought help from far-right political operatives Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl at JM Burkman & Associates, who claimed strong connections within Trump's inner circle. According to a report reviewed by News of the United States (NOTUS), Boosie was told his pardon had already been signed by the president, but it never came through.
However, one White House aide told Boosie's legal team that a pardon application had not even been submitted on his behalf. The rapper is now seeking to recover half of the money he paid—$300,000 (£225,000)—citing a clause in his contract that reportedly promised a refund if a pardon was not secured.
Legal Proceedings and Disputes
Boosie has launched arbitration proceedings against Wohl and Burkman. The pair dispute that any refund clause was agreed. In a statement to TMZ, Burkman said: 'Boosie has no reason to be unhappy. In 30 years of lobbying, I doubt we have ever done more work and harder work. The provision in the contract he is referencing was never agreed to at all.'
Burkman added: 'The other factor is that Boosie's quest for a pardon was made much tougher by an arrest for an alleged crime of violence in Texas earlier this year. We tried very, very hard.'
Background on Boosie's Case
On January 9, 2026, Boosie was sentenced in a San Diego federal court for possessing a firearm as a felon. U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo sentenced him to time already served, meaning he avoided additional prison time after pleading guilty. His sentence also included three years of supervised release, 300 hours of community service, and a $50,000 (£37,460) fine. The original charges stemmed from an arrest in May 2023 after law enforcement spotted him with a gun in his waistband during an Instagram live video.
