Key Takeaways
- Boosie Badazz is seeking a presidential pardon for his federal gun case.
- He has hired lobbyists J.M. Burkman & Associates to assist with his case.
- Boosie accepted a plea deal and is awaiting sentencing on November 21.
- The rapper has previously reached out to Donald Trump regarding his legal issues.
Boosie Badazz is looking to get Donald Trump’s attention regarding the rapper’s federal gun case, and the Baton Rouge artist has reportedly hired lobbyists with hopes of a presidential pardon in his future.
According to public affairs information platform LegiStorm and as reiterated by Complex, Boosie has hired J.M. Burkman & Associates to look into his case after taking a plea deal in his federal gun possession case in San Diego. The pair of lobbyists listed on the lobbying registration form filed with the U.S. Senate are Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl.
Billboard has reached out to Boosie’s representative and attorney, as well as J.M. Burkman & Associates for comment.
Boosie was arrested in May 2023 while visiting San Diego, where he was slated to shoot a music video and make a club appearance. Officers found two weapons on the rapper during a traffic stop after tracking his vehicle with a helicopter.
The 42-year-old originally faced state charges before federal authorities took over the case. Although an appeals court dismissed the case, federal prosecutors refiled and had the ruling overturned.
The “Wipe Me Down” rapper (real name Torence Hatch Jr.) told fans that he accepted a deal because he was “tired” of pursuing the case and is now awaiting sentencing on November 21. Federal prosecutors have recommended a two-year prison sentence after facing a maximum of 15 years.
“JUST ACCEPTED A PLEA FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON MY GUN CASE,” Boosie posted on X at the time. “I THOUGHT THIS CASE WAS OVER AND I WAS GOING TO GET ON WITH MY LIFE BUT ‘GOD DOESN’T MAKE MISTAKES’ AND I’M TIRED OF FIGHTING!!”
Under the Trump administration, there has been no straightforward process for pardoning. Clemency attorney Mark Osler says lawyers had to file applications to the Department of Justice’s Pardon Attorney in the past, which would need several approvals before reaching the White House.
Now, pardons can come straight from Trump’s desk. “The mechanism is falling apart,” Osler told Billboard. “It’s fair to say many people are confused about what the process is now. Some people are filling out the form, some people are trying to appeal directly to [Trump’s so-called pardon czar] Alice Marie Johnson, some people are trying to talk to Trump at Mar-a-Lago, some people are trying to get on Fox News to pitch their case. It’s hard to tell what will work and for whom.”
It’s not the first time Boosie turned to Donald Trump for help. Back in January, he took to X with a message for the president.
“Trump CHECK MY CASE OUT MY CASE WAS DISMISSED BUT BIDEN’S DOJ RECHARGED ME WITH THE SAME GUN CHARGE BIDEN PARDONED HIS SON FOR. I WAS TOLD I AM THE ONLY PERSON IN THE COUNTRY FACING THAT CHARGE NOW,” Boosie wrote. “PRESIDENT TRUMP, I ALREADY RECEIVED A 10 YEAR SENTENCE IN STATE IN 2009 FOR A THIRD OFFENSE MARIJUANA (grams, grams, grams) I NEVER WAS EVEN OFFERED REHAB STRAIGHT TO PRISON.”
He continued with quite an introduction: “AND TRUMP I’M BOOSIE I’M A RAPPER/ FILMMAKER FROM BATON ROUGE. I WAS TARGETED.. MY MOUTH AND THINGS I STAND ON GET ME IN A LOT OF TROUBLE BUT I’M REAL!”
