Boosie Badazz reports paying $600,000 for a pardon effort that did not produce clemency
Reporting and findings
- reported
Torence Hatch, known as Boosie Badazz, told 60 Minutes he paid Burkman and Wohl $600,000 up front after being led to believe the effort would obtain a pardon. Trump did not pardon him. CBS reported that Hatch filed an arbitration claim seeking a refund; Burkman said no final written agreement was signed, denied owing a refund, and he and Wohl denied sending cited text messages.
- CBS News / 60 Minutes: Paid brokers tout ties to Trump's orbit to lobby for presidential pardonsInterview, payment, failure to obtain clemency and contract dispute
- CBS News: Pardon brokers offer to put pressure on the president, at sky-high costsArbitration claim and brokers' responses
Summary and current status
No pardon; refund dispute in arbitration
People and organizations
- Jacob WohlBroker disputing authorship of cited messages
- Jack BurkmanBroker disputing the refund claim
- Torence HatchPardon seeker and reported payer
- Donald J. TrumpPresident from whom clemency was sought
Relationships in this file
- Torence HatchReported upfront payment for pardon advocacy now disputed in arbitrationJ M Burkman & Associates
Money trail
feeHatch's reported upfront payment$600,000 - Reported fee payer / source
- Torence Hatch
- Reported fee recipient
- Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl