Kind of saw this coming, but what do we know. What seemed like a big win for NBA YoungBoy and his fans may now be unraveling as political leaders in Utah challenge Donald Trump’s decision to pardon the Baton Rouge rapper’s probation in a federal gun case.
Get this, while many in the hip hop world cheered Trump’s unexpected move, officials in Utah are voicing strong opposition.
What a world we are in right now.
Get this, Cache County attorney Taylor Sorensen and Sheriff D. Chad Jensen released a joint statement expressing disappointment over the pardon. “We are extremely proud of the work our investigator and prosecutors did on this case, as well as grateful for all the help we received from other local and federal agencies,” they wrote. “Mr. Gaulden \[YB\] pled guilty to the charges in this investigation, and we feel strongly the Justice System in Cache County is far from a ‘weaponized system of justice.’ We have highly trained, honest, experienced and professional sheriff’s investigators and county prosecutors, along with respected District Court Judges and Defense Attorneys.”
Adding to the legal tension, Utah House District 16 Representative Trevor Lee posted his own reaction on X, making it clear he supported local prosecutors. “As a state we should still go after him,” he wrote before later deleting the post.
Although it remains to be seen whether Utah lawmakers have the legal grounds to overturn or resist the pardon, their message is clear. They are not ready to let YoungBoy’s past charges slide without resistance.
The rapper, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, had been living in Utah for several years under house arrest. In 2023, he pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 23 months in prison, five years of probation, and fined $200,000 in a separate gun case.
That part.
As it stands, with legal forces pushing back and political pressure rising, YoungBoy’s pardon might not be as secure as it initially seemed.