Trump-Loving ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic Has Prison Sentence Shortened
Shane Trejo
|
Joseph Maldonado-Passage, popularly known as the “Tiger King” Joe Exotic from his infamous Netflix documentary series, has had one year removed from his prison sentence following an appeal.
Exotic’s original sentence was up to 22 years in prison, but that has been reduced to up to 21 years in prison. The judge rejected his appeal to be freed from prison.
“Please don’t make me die in prison waiting for a chance to be free,” the 58-year-old former zookeeper told the judge.
In addition to being convicted of masterminding an alleged murder-for-hire scheme that was likely just drunken bluster, Exotic was also found guilty of killing five tigers, selling tiger cubs illegally, and creating falsified wildlife records. A U.S. Court of Appeals has determined that Exotic was given too long of a prison sentence for his supposed crimes.
“People should know what they saw on television isn’t the full truth. It isn’t even the tip of the iceberg. It was snowflakes on the tip of the iceberg, largely manufactured by those who wanted to see Joe Exotic in jail for their own benefit,” Exotic’s attorney, John M Phillips said.
Big League Politics reported about the push by Exotic’s supporters to secure him a presidential pardon while Trump was still in office:
“The legal team of exotic wildlife connoisseur and Netflix ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic is planning a tour-style trip to Washington D.C. in order to request a presidential pardon for Exotic from President Trump. Exotic is currently serving a 22-year sentence at a federal prison in Texas, after being convicted for a murder-for-hire plot against a Florida big cat sanctuary owner. Exotic maintains his innocence, claiming he was set up by nefarious elements within the exotic animal and zoo trade.
The Exotic advocates appear intent on publicizing the larger-than-life story surrounding the Tiger King’s downfall and arrest, documented in the hit Netflix series many quarantined Americans have become enamored with.
Big League Politics published a new letter from the controversial and colorful zookeeper, detailing his continued claims of innocence and his life within the Federal Medical Center at Fort Worth. Eric Love, a close Exotic associate, thanked the Tiger King’s new fans for their support of the now-incarcerated animal lover. Exotic’s lawyers are appealing the Oklahoma native’s murder-for-hire and animal abuse convictions in the federal court system, in addition to seeking an official pardon from the President.
President Donald Trump confirmed that he knew little to nothing about the peculiar Oklahoma zookeeper, having been largely preoccupied with the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic ever since the six-part documentary series covering Exotic’s downfall has come out. Donald Trump Jr. is known to be a fan of the series, and suggested that his father might be willing to commute Exotic’s hefty sentence if made familiar with the big cat lover’s case.“
Losing one year off his long prison sentence is hardly justice for Joe Exotic. After Trump gets back in the White House in 2024, he should consider pardoning this capitalist pioneer and renaissance man who has been wronged by a criminal justice system out to make an example of him.
Share: