Criticizing the President’s controversial clemency for NBA YoungBoy, a Utah State Representative is adamant that it should not deter the state from seeking legal action against the rapper. While the federal charges have been dropped, the legislator insists that accountability on the state level is still needed.
The pardon, which came at the end of May, surprised people around the country. It erased the Louisiana artist’s five-year federal probation, which was based on a complex set of charges, including gun possession, forgery, and identity theft, some of them tied to cases in Utah. Fans rejoiced at the move, and YoungBoy himself celebrated it publicly, expressing his gratitude to Trump for “granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building as a man, as a father, and as an artist.”
A Republican lawmaker, a member of the northern part of the state, made waves this week with his barbed comments, saying a federal pardon does not erase what happened in Utah. They are still responsible for seeing justice done, particularly in serious crimes such as identity theft and forgery. He is hardly alone in his frustration. In a joint statement, Cache County officials, including Sheriff D. Chad Jensen and County Attorney Taylor Sorensen, condemned Trump’s decision as disregardful of due process. Local authorities also expressed alarm that the pardon was sending a dangerous message that signaled that influence and celebrity could trump consequences.
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At the heart of Utah’s claim is a jurisdictional issue. A presidential pardon clears one of federal charges but does not resolve state cases. And for Utah authorities, YoungBoy’s alleged transgressions in the state, especially charges of using fraudulent documentation, have yet to be determined. His legal team, spearheaded by civil rights lawyer Brittany K. Barnett, has said the pardon is transformative for the artist. In an interview with Billboard shortly after the wall hit No. 1, YoungBoy described the moment as “the door to a future I’ve worked hard for and I am fully prepared to step into this.” He also thanked pardon advocate Alice Marie Johnson, who is said to have worked to secure his clemency.
Nevertheless, the conflict between federal and state power is now front and center. He wrote that the rapper may be off the hook federally, but since Utah has the right to move forward with its own charges unless prosecutors decide to let them go, the plea deal makes that outcome seem unlikely. The case also underscores mounting tension around presidential pardons, particularly those involving celebrities or public figures who get into legal trouble. Trump’s pardons, including this one, will likely be examined anew as the presidential race heats up for their impact both in legal terms and in the court of public opinion. The story of NBA YoungBoy is far from finished. Even though the federal government has cleared his name, Utah seems intent on pushing forward, still insisting that justice be served, if nothing else but within its borders.
