Louisiana rapper Boosie Badazz, legally named Torence Hatch, is pursuing arbitration to recover $300,000 from Washington D.C. lobbying firm JM Burkman & Associates after they failed to secure a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. Hatch paid the firm $600,000 in 2025 to advocate for a pardon related to a 2023 federal gun conviction.
Failed Pardon and Arbitration Dispute
According to a report from Notus, which covers federal government affairs, Hatch hired JM Burkman & Associates to lobby for a pardon from President Trump. The firm, led by Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, registered to contact the White House, the Justice Department, and Congress. However, no pardon materialized. Hatch's attorneys were told by the lobbyists that Trump had signed the pardon and they were awaiting announcement, but the White House stated it never received such a request.
The legal dispute centers on whether the firm agreed to return half of the $600,000 upfront fee if a pardon was not granted. The firm disputes this, stating in a statement that "no provision to return half the fee was ever actually agreed to." Hatch is now seeking a $300,000 refund through arbitration.
Background of the Gun Conviction
Hatch's pursuit of a pardon stems from a guilty plea in federal court for possessing a loaded pistol as a convicted felon. In 2023, during a music video shoot in San Diego, police monitoring an Instagram Live video of a gang member spotted Hatch with a handgun in his waistband. He was sentenced to three years of supervised release, 300 hours of community service, and a $50,000 fine. A successful pardon would have removed the conviction from his record and potentially avoided the sentence.
The Clemency Economy and Trump's Pardons
This case highlights the so-called "clemency economy," where millions of dollars have been paid to lobbyists and lawyers promising access to Trump during his second presidency. Trump has issued numerous pardons to individuals he considers aligned with him who were convicted of federal crimes. Other lawyers and pardon advocates told Notus that refund clauses are highly unusual in such arrangements.
Colorful Track Record of Burkman and Wohl
Burkman and Wohl have a controversial history. In 2022, they pleaded guilty in Ohio to running an illegal robocall campaign targeting Black voters, later settling for $1.25 million with New York authorities and $5 million with the FCC. Notus also referenced media reports of their alleged attempts to fabricate sexual harassment accusations against former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and former special counsel Robert Mueller. They also fooled the Washington Post into reporting a fake FBI raid on Burkman's home.
Hatch told Notus that when first contacted, the lobbyists "were real aggressive – they were talking like they had Trump on speed dial." The firm claimed they lobbied hard, including asking Trump ally Laura Loomer to request the president's executive assistant, Natalie Harp, to bring the application to Trump. Wohl reportedly said Loomer "is the person for the Jewish guys."
Burkman's Connection to Other Pardon Cases
Burkman has ties to another pardon-related case: in March 2025, New York lawyer Joshua Nass was charged with extorting a former client over an alleged $500,000 debt. Nass was involved in a presidential pardon for Joseph Schwartz, a nursing home operator convicted of fraud, who had also hired Burkman.
