Full Breakdown
Boosie BadAzz’s $600,000 Pardon Deal Turns Into a Lawsuit
7/18/2026, 8:48:46 PM
Core Event
Rapper Torence Hatch Jr., known as Boosie BadAzz, paid $600,000 to the lobbying firm JM Burkman & Associates in September 2025 to obtain a presidential pardon for a 2023 federal gun-possession conviction. The firm failed to secure the pardon, and Boosie filed a lawsuit on March 25 2026 seeking a $300,000 refund as stipulated in the signed agreement.
Background & Context
Boosie pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon in 2023 and faced a potential prison term that would have kept him from his children and music career. Seeking clemency, he turned to two right-wing operatives—Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman—who have a history of high-profile political stunts and prior fraud convictions.
Key Figures & Groups
- Torence “Boosie” Hatch Jr. – Louisiana rapper, plaintiff.
- Jacob Wohl & Jack Burkman – Founders of JM Burkman & Associates, defendants.
- Jill Craft – Boosie’s Baton Rouge-based attorney.
- Meghan Blanco – San Diego-based criminal-defense lawyer who represented Boosie in the gun case.
- Nancy Mace (R-SC), Laura Loomer, Mike Cernovich, Jack Posobiec, Erika Kirk – Politically conservative figures Boosie claimed were contacted by the lobbyists.
Timeline
- Sept 2025 – Boosie signs a retainer with JM Burkman & Associates, agreeing to a $300,000 refund if no pardon is secured by 5 p.m. Jan 1 2026.
- Dec 31 2025 – Boosie receives a New Year’s Eve text from Burkman saying Trump has the pardon “in hand.”
- Jan 1 2026 – Boosie’s attorney Meghan Blanco is told the White House has not received a pardon application.
- Jan 9 2026 – U.S. District Judge in San Diego sentences Boosie to three years supervised release, credits 10 days served, and orders 300 hours of community service.
- Mar 25 2026 – Boosie files an arbitration claim demanding half of the retainer be returned.
Data & Statistics
- Payment: $600,000 retainer.
- Refund clause: $300,000 if no pardon by Jan 1 2026, 5 p.m.
- Sentence: 3 years supervised release, 300 hours community service, 10 days jail credit.
Why It Matters
The case highlights a burgeoning “pardon-for-sale” industry that leverages perceived access to former President Donald Trump. It also raises questions about consumer-protection standards for political-influence services and the ethical limits of lobbying for executive clemency.
Official Statements & Responses
- JM Burkman & Associates: “In 25 years, we cannot think of a single client for whom our firm has done more work than Boosie,” and “No provision to return half the fee was ever actually agreed to.”
- White House: No comment was provided to reporters.
- Nancy Mace (R-SC): “Our office received an email requesting a phone call…Our office promised nothing, and they never followed up. To our knowledge. More than willing to assist.”
Criticism & Opposition
Wohl and Burkman have previously pleaded guilty to telecommunications fraud in Ohio (2022) and reached a $1.5 million settlement with New York Attorney General Leticia James for similar schemes. Their reputation for “political stunts” and false claims of past pardons undermines confidence in their services.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was in a bad position, and they preyed on me, bro,” — Boosie BadAzz
- “They were chasing the money.” — Boosie BadAzz
- “We expect them to live up to their end of the signed contract.” — Jill Craft, attorney
- “DONT START LYING NOW I GAVE U 3 MONTHS TO SEND MY MONEY BACK,” — Boosie BadAzz (X post)
- “You can’t pay for a pardon … not sure who told you that’s how it works.” — Laura Loomer (X reply)
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The contract reportedly obligates JM Burkman & Associates to a $300,000 refund if no pardon is secured by the deadline, yet the firm contends no such provision exists. No independent copy of the agreement has been released, leaving the precise terms ambiguous.
What’s Next
Boosie’s arbitration claim proceeds under the American Arbitration Association’s rules. The outcome will determine whether the refund clause is enforceable and could set a precedent for future “pardon-for-fee” arrangements.
