Notorious rapper Boosie Badazz has launched a lawsuit against two political lobbyists, claiming he paid £450,000 for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump that never materialized.
The 43-year-old rapper, whose real name is Torence Hatch, was facing sentencing for possessing a firearm as a felon and hoped a presidential pardon would wipe his record clean.
According to reports, Boosie sought the help of two far-right political operatives, who claimed they had strong connections within Trump's inner circle.
However, despite being told that his pardon had already been signed by the president, it never materialized, leaving Boosie with a hefty unpaid bill.
Boosie is now seeking to recover half of the money he paid due to a clause in his contract that reportedly promised a refund if a pardon was not secured.
The rapper's legal team claimed they were told on New Year's Day that Trump had signed the pardon, only for it to never materialize.
Boosie has launched arbitration proceedings against the lobbyists, claiming he is entitled to half of his fee back.
The lobbyists have disputed that any refund clause was agreed, with one of them stating that Boosie's quest for a pardon was made tougher by an arrest for an alleged crime of violence in Texas earlier this year.
The pair also claimed that Boosie's original charges stemmed from an arrest in May 2023 after law enforcement spotted him with a gun in his waistband during an Instagram live video.
Boosie was eventually sentenced to time already served and three years of supervised release, 300 hours of community service, and a $50,000 fine.
The case has sparked controversy, with many questioning the legitimacy of the pardon and the role of the lobbyists in the process.
