Tiger King star and vocal Donald Trump supporter Joe Exotic has penned a heartfelt letter to President-elect, pleading for an early release from prison. The 61-year-old convict, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, made headlines with Netflix's 2020 documentary. He was arrested in 2019 and convicted of two counts of murder for hire, nine counts of violating the Endangered Species Act, and nine counts for violations of the Lacey Act, which prohibits illegal trafficking of wildlife, fish, and plants. Exotic is currently serving a 21-year sentence and is set to be released in 2036.
In the letter obtained by RadarOnline, Exotic appeals to his fellow convict, hoping for a release from the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. He writes, "A lot of people went to bat for you in 2021 who have been living in hell ever since then." Exotic, who is serving time for his murder-for-hire case against rival Carole Baskin, adds, "Everyone hopes you keep the promises you made during your campaign, which include pardoning everyone sooner than later in January 2025."
Exotic not only seeks his release but also expresses his desire to be part of Trump's cabinet as the new Federal Fish and Wildlife Director. He criticizes the former director, Dan Ash, accusing him of using his position to harm Exotic's business and send him to prison for personal gain. Exotic argues, "Hundreds of millions of dollars are being wasted within this department, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 was written to protect the animals and their habitats on our lands. It was not meant to be used to create illegal monopolies, as it has been in the past, allowing only certain people to profit from this Act and putting their competitors out of business."
Exotic has also taken to social media to rally support for his cause. He shared an article from The Daily Beast about possible Trump pardons, captioning it, "Trump you got to make my Pardon Happen in January. The media is counting on you this time." He also posted a picture of him and Trump, with the caption 'Trump Free Joe Exotic': "Everyone please get behind this movement. The evidence shows I am innocent so it’s time to make this wrong a right."
Exotic's letter and social media activity come shortly after he announced his engagement to Jorge Marquez, a prison mate 28 years his junior. This marks Exotic’s third prison engagement in three years.
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