Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 14
Boosie Badazz Seeks $300,000 Refund After Trump Pardon Bid Fails
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 14

Boosie Badazz Seeks $300,000 Refund After Trump Pardon Bid Fails

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 14

Summary

  • $300,000 is what Boosie Badazz is trying to recover in arbitration after paying JM Burkman & Associates $600,000 to pursue a Trump pardon that never came.
  • Notus reported the lobbyists told Boosie’s lawyers Trump had signed the pardon and they were awaiting a White House announcement, while the White House later said it had never received such a request.
  • The dispute turns on whether the firm must return half the upfront fee; Burkman and Wohl deny any refund clause and reportedly told Boosie’s side the firm was effectively bankrupt.
  • Boosie sought clemency over a 2023 federal gun case that ended in supervised release, 300 hours of community service and a $50,000 fine after police found a loaded pistol during a San Diego video shoot.
  • The case highlights a growing “clemency economy” around Trump-era pardons, where lobbyists and lawyers have collected large fees by promising access and influence.

Insights

When a rapper pays $600,000 for a pardon, is justice for sale to the highest bidder?
How did the presidential pardon transform from an act of mercy into a million-dollar lobbying industry?