Here’s what happened.
Rapper Boosie has launched a legal fight against a lobbying firm after an effort to obtain a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump ended without success.
According to court filings and a contract reviewed by multiple news outlets, the Louisiana rapper paid $600,000 to JM Burkman & Associates in September 2025 to help pursue a presidential pardon connected to his 2023 federal firearms case.
The agreement reportedly included a provision stating that if a pardon was not secured by 5:00 p.m. on January 1, 2026, the firm would refund $300,000 of the fee.
Boosie’s attorney, Jill Craft, said the contract clearly outlines that refund provision and expects the firm to honor its terms.
“This contract was prepared by and signed by Burkman & Associates, including the return of funds provision,” Craft said. “We expect them to live up to their end of the signed contract.”
Pardon Effort Falls Short
Boosie, whose legal name is Torrence Hatch Jr., believed the pardon was close to becoming a reality after reportedly receiving a New Year’s Eve text message from lobbyist Jack Burkman stating that President Trump had the pardon ready for signature.
According to reports, Boosie was later informed by attorney Meghan Blanco, who represented him in his federal gun case, that she had been told a White House announcement was expected.
However, the presidential pardon was never issued.
Blanco later said a White House aide informed her that no pardon application had been located, raising questions about the status of the effort.
Federal Sentencing Moved Forward
With no pardon granted, Boosie’s criminal case continued through the federal court system.
On January 9, a U.S. District Judge in San Diego sentenced the rapper to three years of supervised release, while crediting him for the time he had already spent in custody. The sentence also included 300 hours of community service.
Arbitration Seeks Partial Refund
In March, Boosie initiated arbitration proceedings through the American Arbitration Association, seeking the return of $300,000 under the terms he says were included in the original agreement.
The dispute later became public through a series of posts on X, where the rapper criticized the lobbying firm and demanded repayment.
Boosie also alleged that the lobbyists told him they had contacted several Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators during the pardon effort, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Rep. Andy Biggs, Rep. Nancy Mace, Laura Loomer, Mike Cernovich, Jack Posobiec, and Erika Kirk.
Several of those individuals publicly disputed those claims.
Laura Loomer and Mike Cernovich each said they had no involvement in Boosie’s pardon request.
Rep. Nancy Mace also responded publicly, saying her office received a request for a phone call and held one conversation with Boosie’s representatives but made no promises regarding a presidential pardon.
Boosie later questioned where the money had gone after several people he believed had been contacted said they were never involved in the effort.
Lobbying Firm Rejects Allegations
JM Burkman & Associates has denied Boosie’s claims regarding the refund.
In a statement, the firm said it devoted significant time and resources to pursuing a presidential pardon on the rapper’s behalf and disputed the claim that it agreed to return half of the retainer if the effort was unsuccessful.
The firm stated that it had worked harder on Boosie’s case than nearly any other client over the past 25 years and maintained that no enforceable agreement existed requiring a partial refund.
The arbitration process remains ongoing, and no final decision has been announced.
Previous Legal Issues Draw Attention
The dispute has also renewed attention on the backgrounds of lobbyists Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl.
In 2022, the pair pleaded guilty in Ohio to telecommunications fraud related to a robocall campaign. They also resolved similar legal matters in Michigan and reached a settlement with the New York Attorney General that included a $1.5 million financial penalty.
Those previous cases are unrelated to Boosie’s current dispute but have drawn renewed public attention as the arbitration proceeds.
What’s Next?
For now, the disagreement centers on whether the lobbying agreement requires a partial refund after the unsuccessful pardon effort.
Boosie is seeking the return of $300,000, while JM Burkman & Associates maintains that no such obligation exists.
The arbitration case is still pending, and neither President Trump nor the White House has publicly commented on the dispute.