Boosie Badazz seeks $300,000 refund after failed Trump pardon bid
Louisiana rapper Boosie Badazz is seeking a $300,000 refund from Washington lobbyists Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman after they failed to deliver a Donald Trump presidential pardon he paid $600,000 to secure. The Baton Rouge artist, legally named Torence Hatch, hired JM Burkman & Associates in September 2025 following a federal gun conviction. He entered arbitration in July 2026 as sentencing approached—and as the contract's disputed refund deadline passed without clemency.
What began as a high-stakes gamble in the so-called clemency economy has become one of the first known legal battles against pardon lobbyists during Trump's second term. The case underscores how operatives are selling White House access to convicted clients—with uneven results.
Key Takeaways
- Boosie Badazz paid JM Burkman & Associates $600,000 in September 2025 to lobby for a federal pardon on his gun conviction.
- Lobbyists told his attorneys Trump had signed the pardon on New Year's Day 2026, but a White House aide said no application had been received.
- Boosie is pursuing arbitration for a $300,000 partial refund tied to a contract clause; Burkman and Wohl deny agreeing to return half the fee.
- NOTUS reported this is the first known arbitration against pardon lobbyists during Trump's second presidency.
- Without a pardon, Boosie was sentenced to three years of supervised release, 300 hours of community service, and a $50,000 fine.
Why Is Boosie Badazz Fighting for a $300,000 Refund?
According to reporting by NOTUS, Boosie signed a contract with Burkman's firm on September 30, 2025. The agreement included a provision allowing him to request half his $600,000 fee back if lobbyists had not secured a presidential pardon by January 31, 2026.
When no pardon arrived, Boosie demanded the $300,000 refund. Burkman and Wohl refused, telling his attorney Jill Craft that no refund provision was ever agreed to. In March, Burkman texted Boosie that the firm was effectively bankrupt, citing more than $6 million owed from Ohio robocall fines and other debts.
What Did the Lobbyists Promise Boosie Badazz?
Craft told The Advocate that Wohl and Burkman repeatedly assured Boosie's team the pardon was a done deal. On New Year's Eve 2025, they said the document was in Trump's hand and ready to sign. On New Year's Day, they told defense attorney Meghan Blanco that Trump had signed it.
Days later, a White House aide told Blanco the office had not seen a pardon application for Boosie at all. Wohl and Burkman also claimed endorsements from MAGA figures and Republicans including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Erika Kirk—claims representatives for Kirk and Johnson denied to NOTUS.
What Is Boosie Badazz's Federal Case About?
As The Guardian reported, Boosie pleaded guilty to possessing a loaded pistol as a convicted felon after police spotted the weapon during a 2023 music video shoot in San Diego. He had prior convictions including a 2011 drug-trafficking case.
The failed pardon push was meant to wipe his federal record and spare him from serving his sentence. In January 2026, a judge sentenced him to 10 days time served plus supervised release and community service. A separate Houston arrest later triggered a probation revocation request that could add up to two years in prison.
What Happens Next in the Trump Pardon Dispute?
Boosie's arbitration with the American Arbitration Association remains ongoing. Burkman and Wohl's attorney Charles Camp moved to dismiss, arguing the contract was void because a typo listed a January 31, 2025 deadline—nine months before it was signed. Craft says both sides intended January 31, 2026.
The dispute may preview more litigation from Trump's mass pardon era. For more on high-profile legal battles, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.