Boosie Badazz demands $300K refund after $600K pardon push falls apart

Boosie Badazz seeks a $300,000 refund after a lobbying effort for a presidential pardon reportedly fell through

Rapper Boosie Badazz is seeking a $300,000 refund from a Washington lobbying firm after an effort to secure a presidential pardon for his federal gun conviction reportedly failed.

The Baton Rouge rapper, whose real name is Torence Hatch, paid JM Burkman & Associates $600,000 in 2025 to help pursue a pardon from President Donald Trump, according to reports from NOTUS. Federal lobbying records show the firm registered to contact the White House, the Department of Justice and Congress on Hatch’s behalf regarding the pardon request.

The agreement between Hatch and the lobbying firm reportedly required the full payment upfront. Under the contract, $300,000 was considered nonrefundable, while the remaining $300,000 could be returned if Hatch did not receive a pardon by a specified deadline and requested the refund in writing.

Hatch is now taking the dispute to arbitration, a private process used to resolve disagreements outside court. His attorney reportedly said the lobbying firm informed her around New Year’s Day that Trump had signed the pardon and that an official announcement was pending. However, no pardon was publicly announced, and Hatch’s legal team could not confirm that one had been granted.

According to reports, a White House aide later told Hatch’s attorney that no pardon request for the rapper had been located.

JM Burkman & Associates disputes that it agreed to refund half of the payment and reportedly stated that financial issues prevented it from issuing the money back.

Boosie Badazz pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm after authorities said he was seen with a gun while filming a music video in San Diego in 2023. He was sentenced to supervised release, community service and a $50,000 fine.